Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku sustained a major injury during Napoli’s friendly against Olympiacos last Thursday, casting an early shadow over the reigning Italian champions’ season.
Club Confirms "High-Severity" Injury
Napoli confirmed on Monday that Lukaku suffered a lesion in the rectus femoris muscle of his left thigh. The 32-year-old will undergo surgery, with recovery expected to sideline him for at least two months, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Bollettino medico | Le condizioni di Lukaku 👇https://t.co/zRirRhNjmR
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) August 18, 2025
Blow for Conte’s Attack Plans
Lukaku, who scored 14 goals and delivered 10 assists in his debut season for Napoli, leaves a big void in Antonio Conte’s squad. The setback comes just as the club prepares to defend its Serie A crown and mount a strong Champions League campaign. Napoli signed Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese earlier this summer in a €40 million deal, but Conte may now push for an additional striker before the transfer window closes.
Zirkzee Tops the List of Replacements
Reports from Corriere dello Sport linked Napoli with Joshua Zirkzee, Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Artem Dovbyk (Roma), and Nikola Krstovic (Lecce). However, transfer insiders Niccolò Ceccarini and Orazio Accomando suggest Zirkzee has emerged as Conte’s preferred choice to replace Lukaku.
