Kevin De Bruyne acknowledged Romelu Lukaku’s challenging predicament, noting that any events involving Napoli tend to be exaggerated.
De Bruyne spoke about his fellow Belgian and Napoli teammate during a recent press conference.
De Bruyne Addresses Lukaku’s Napoli Disagreement
Lukaku has reportedly stayed in Belgium to undertake individual training, aiming for full fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup, a move not sanctioned by Napoli.
The Partenopei are reportedly angered by the 32-year-old’s actions and intend to exclude him from the squad if he doesn’t return to the club’s training facility by next Tuesday.
Belgium’s national team coach supported Lukaku, expressing his desire for the striker to secure more playing time at Napoli following the international break.
Speaking during his international duty with Belgium, De Bruyne further remarked, as reported by Gazzetta, “There’s consistently significant attention surrounding Napoli. Any incident tends to be magnified. I’m not privy to the specifics or the exact chain of events.”
“Nonetheless, this isn’t an ideal situation for Romelu. He endured a prolonged injury, and my hope is for his swift return.”
Currently, Lukaku is in Antwerp, training at the same clinic where De Bruyne underwent treatment for a severe muscle injury in recent months.
While De Bruyne has recently resumed playing for the Partenopei, Lukaku has made only seven appearances across all competitions, totaling barely 60 minutes of play and scoring just one goal.
De Bruyne concluded by saying, “Romelu and I followed a comparable recovery trajectory after our injuries. I completed my full rehabilitation in Belgium, whereas Romelu’s was split between Antwerp and Naples.”
“When perspectives diverge, collaboration becomes challenging. Disagreements have emerged, which is suboptimal when the goal is to regain peak physical condition.”
