Romelu Lukaku is expected to be sidelined for around three months after Napoli confirmed the forward had suffered a torn quad muscle.
Lukaku, 32, was forced off in Napoli’s friendly win over Olympiacos on Thursday — their final fixture before Antonio Conte’s side begin their Serie A title defence at Sassuolo on Saturday.
Lukaku underwent tests at the private Pineta Grande Hospital to the north east of Naples and, in a brief statement, the club said he had suffered ‘a high-grade lesion of the rectus femoris in his left thigh’ and had already begun rehabilitation.
Napoli added that Lukaku “will undergo a surgical consultation” to determine if he needs a procedure.
Napoli signed Italy international forward Lorenzo Lucca on loan from Udinese earlier in the summer, while Kevin De Bruyne is among their other new additions in a busy transfer window for the Scudetto holders.
But Lucca is now Conte’s only recognised option at centre-forward following the departures of Giovanni Simeone on loan to Torino and Giacomo Raspadori to Atletico Madrid.
Lukaku was a key player for Conte’s side last season, scoring 14 goals and registering 10 assists in the top flight, as Napoli beat Inter Milan to the title by a single point.
(Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
Aug 18, 2025
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