Lukaku defends injury treatment decision
ROME: Romelu Lukaku defended his decision to seek treatment at home rather than at his club after withdrawing from Belgium’s World Cup warm-up matches in the United States on Monday.
Lukaku, 32, has barely played this season due to injury, but said he wanted success for Napoli and his national team.
“This season has been a lot for me, dealing with injury and (losing my father),” Napoli striker Lukaku posted on Instagram. “I know there’s been a lot of noise about my situation in the last few days, and it’s important to clear the air…
“The truth is, I haven’t been feeling well physically for the last few weeks, and while in Belgium, I had a checkup, and it turned out I had swelling and fluid in my hip flexor muscle.”
After a season marred by injury, Lukaku withdrew from Belgium’s World Cup warm-up friendlies last Tuesday – skipping the 5-2 win over co-hosts the United States and also missing the upcoming match against Mexico. “I decided to rehab in Belgium… (but) I can never turn my back on Napoli, never,” he said, responding to the internal malice of the Serie A club and its supporters.
“I want nothing more than to play and win for my team,” he said. “But right now I have to make sure I’m 100 percent clinically fit because I haven’t been well recently, and it’s had a mental impact.” “
Lukaku, Belgium’s all-time record goalscorer, said that “a lot has happened this year,” but “all I want is to get there and help Napoli and the national team achieve their goals.”
After suffering a thigh injury during pre-season, Lukaku didn’t return to action until January.
He has played just seven times for the Serie A champions this season, as they struggle to defend their title — Napoli currently trail league leaders Inter Milan by seven points.
