The Belgian striker's second year in Naples has been a near-total failure. A serious hamstring injury sustained in pre-season restricted him to just seven competitive appearances and one goal. An unauthorised return to Belgium in March — chosen over a mandated return to the club's Castel Volturno training base — triggered a fine of €150,000, equivalent to 20% of his gross monthly salary, and pushed an already strained relationship to breaking point.
Napoli have now sanctioned a second trip to Belgium, this time with the club's approval, allowing Lukaku to complete his recovery at the Belgian national team's technical centre ahead of the World Cup. The tone of that arrangement is pragmatic rather than reconciliatory — the club wants to preserve his market value ahead of a sale.
Lukaku, 33, joined Napoli permanently from Chelsea in August 2024 for around €30 million, with the transfer strongly advocated by manager Antonio Conte, whose past relationship with the striker stretches back to their time together at Inter Milan. That personal bond has not survived this season's dysfunction. Conte did not attend the meeting between Lukaku and sporting director Giovanni Manna when the striker returned to Naples from Belgium last month.
Napoli are now reportedly willing to accept as little as €10 million to facilitate a clean exit. Interest is understood to have come from clubs in Turkey — including Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş — as well as Saudi Arabia, Lyon and Monaco. Everton, managed by David Moyes who worked extensively with Lukaku, made contact in January and retain an interest.
The club's calculation is straightforward: with a contract running until June 2027, waiting risks receiving nothing, while a discounted sale at least partially offsets the capital loss on the original €30 million outlay.
Lukaku was Belgium's all-time top scorer going into this season with 89 goals in 124 appearances. Fitness permitting, the national team are expected to lean on him at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.