Rudi Garcia Voices Support for Romelu Lukaku, Anticipates More Playing Time at Napoli

Belgium's coach, Rudi Garcia, has expressed support for Romelu Lukaku, acknowledging the striker's need for a 'specific program' to regain fitness. Garcia hopes that the striker will see increased 'playing time' upon his return to Napoli.

Garcia, who previously coached Napoli, seemed to defend Lukaku, despite the striker's choice to remain in Belgium for individual training during the international break instead of returning to Naples.

Belgium Coach Defends Lukaku After Napoli Row

Lukaku reportedly violated Napoli's internal regulations and faces a club fine. Multiple sources suggest that if he doesn't return by next Tuesday, the Partenopei may exclude him from the squad.

During the March international break, Lukaku initially joined the Belgian national team but was later dropped due to his unsatisfactory form.

Speaking at a Saturday press conference, Garcia explained, "Lukaku was not 100% fit, and he had to follow a specific program to recover."

He added, "It's natural for him to aspire to peak performance. When a player isn't at their best, the mental aspect becomes crucial due to the fear of re-injury. We empathize with him. Totti suffered a similar injury, and we understand that such recovery demands time."

Lukaku suffered a significant muscle injury during pre-season training, limiting him to just over 60 minutes of play across all competitions this season, during which he scored once in seven appearances.

Garcia further stated, "I hope Lukaku can return to Napoli soon and receive more playing time there."

He emphasized, "It's crucial for both the club and us that he regains full fitness as quickly as possible. We need to ensure everyone understands that Romelu must do what he believes is necessary to achieve his optimal physical and mental state."

Garcia, a former coach for Napoli, reportedly has a strained relationship with club President Aurelio De Laurentiis. Last year, Garcia commented that he enjoyed "everything" about his tenure at the club, "except for the owner."