Lukaku set for early Napoli return after Belgium agreement with Tedesco | OneFootball

Romelu Lukaku is expected to arrive back in Italy ahead of schedule after a reported agreement with Belgium national team head coach Domenico Tedesco.

Lukaku set to return to Napoli ahead of schedule

The Paretnopei striker played the full 90 minutes as Belgium fell to a 1-0 defeat against Italy in Brussels on Thursday night. The 30-year-old had originally said that he would only play for Napoli until the end of the calendar year in order to regain his Serie A form, but was called in for the crucial Nations League fixtures against the Azzurri and Israel.

Romelu Lukaku of Belgium (L) and Alessandro Buongiorno of Italy (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Belgium and Italy in Brussels, Belgium, 14 November 2024. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER MATTHYS

According to reports from Calciomercato.com via Belgium, when Lukaku was called up for November’s international fixtures, it was after an agreement with Tedesco that he would only play one match and would be allowed to return to his domestic club side afterwards.

And so, Belgium are expected to have to do without their all-time leading goalscorer for the match away against Israel in Hungary on Sunday evening.

Lukaku is expected to return to Naples and continue training under Antonio Conte ahead of a visit from Roma at the Stadio Maradona next weekend.