Napoli to take 'disciplinary action' with Romelu Lukaku after training no-show

[p]The club ‌confirmed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukaku-romelu/dCkG0Iw0/"]Lukaku[/a] was a no-show after being called back to their training ground, sparking ‌threats of disciplinary action in a saga that has left ‌the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter/Iw7eKK25/"]Inter Milan[/a] striker's immediate future hanging in the ‌balance.[/p][p]Lukaku withdrew from Belgium's trip to the United States, missing World ‌Cup warm-up matches against the U.S. and Mexico to work on his fitness. Italian media reported that Lukaku refused to return to the club's training ‌ground for rehabilitation.[/p][p]"[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/napoli/69Dxbc61/"]Napoli[/a] can confirm that Romelu Lukaku ⁠did not respond to today's ‌call to return to training," Napoli said in a statement.[/p][p][b]"The club reserves the right ​to consider taking the appropriate disciplinary action, as well as to determine whether the player will continue to train ​with the team for an indefinite period."[/b][/p][p]Lukaku, who scored 14 goals last season to guide Napoli to the Serie A title, has ⁠endured a torrid campaign ​plagued by fitness issues.[/p][p]He was sidelined for the first half of the season due to a hamstring injury while he has managed one league goal in five substitute appearances since his return in January.[/p][embed guid="3384e687-ffd4-48d6-aac7-2a4e350de65e" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2038946216281604140" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Lukaku defends decision to stay in Belgium[/h2][p]The 32-year-old striker defended his decision to remain in Belgium for treatment, citing ongoing physical problems that have hampered his return to peak form.[/p][p][b]"The truth is the last few weeks I wasn't feeling right physically and I had it checked out while I was in Belgium and it showed that there was an inflammation and liquid on my hip flexor muscle next to my scar tissue,"[/b] Lukaku said on Monday.[/p][p]"Since it is the ‌second problem I had since coming back early November, I chose ​to do the rehab in Belgium so I can help ‌when called upon.[/p][p][b]"I could never turn my back on Napoli, never. There's nothing more I would love to do than play and win (with) my team. But right now I have to make sure I am clinically a 100%."[/b][/p][p]Napoli are third in Serie ⁠A, seven points behind leaders ⁠Inter Milan. They next host ‌second-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ac-milan/8Sa8HInO/"]AC Milan[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ac-milan-8Sa8HInO/napoli-69Dxbc61/?mid=b9eMZVoI"]on Monday[/a].[/p]