Striker Romelu Lukaku will not feature in Belgium’s upcoming international matches. The forward has decided to skip the friendly games against Mexico and the United States, scheduled as part of their World Cup preparations, opting instead to remain in Naples. His primary focus will be on regaining full fitness following a recent injury. Lukaku intends to utilize the final stretch of the league season with Napoli to gradually increase his playing time and ensure optimal recovery for the upcoming tournament in North America.
Lukaku Skips Friendlies: Official Statement from Belgium
The Royal Belgian Football Association released an official statement regarding the decision: “Romelu Lukaku will not participate in Belgium’s upcoming friendly matches in the United States against the USA and Mexico. Romelu has chosen to concentrate on training to further optimize his physical condition. The KBVB respects his decision and wishes him good luck.” Lukaku was initially expected to be available for the match against the United States, scheduled for March 28, followed by the game against Mexico on April 1. Romelu Lukaku’s last appearance for the Belgian national team was in June of last year, when he started and scored in a World Cup qualifying match against Wales.
Lukaku’s Current Condition
Despite his recent injury layoff, Lukaku remains a veteran figure and a crucial player for the Belgian national squad. After suffering a significant injury during the summer pre-season camp, Lukaku finally returned to action last January in a Serie A match against Juventus in Turin. Naturally, an athlete with his physique requires careful management for an effective recovery to prevent relapses. Consequently, his club is managing his playing time cautiously: he has not yet started a match since his return from injury but has already made a valuable contribution, including a decisive goal in the late stages of a victory against Verona. However, he did not feature at all, even as a substitute, in the last two league matches against Lecce and Cagliari.