Why Romelu Lukaku Has Been Dropped From Napoli’s Squad Vs Cremonese
The striker is still recovering from a serious thigh injury suffered in August.
Romelu Lukaku has not been included in Napoli’s squad for their trip to Cremonese on Sunday afternoon.
Romelu Lukaku Must Work On His Fitness
Antonio Conte has been boosted by Lukaku’s return to fitness after he recovered from a serious thigh injury picked up in a pre-season friendly against Olympicacos back in August.
The striker was expected to be ruled out until March, but defied expectations to make an early comeback.
He was spotted training individually ahead of the Partenopei’s 2-0 defeat by Benfica in the Champions League earlier this month. Lukaku then travelled with his team-mates for the Italian Super Cup.
Despite not playing in Saudi Arabia, Lukaku’s inclusion moved him closer to a first appearance in four months.
However, his recovery has not been plain sailing, and he will require more time before he is fully fit and firing.
According to Corriere del Mezzogiorno, Lukaku has been dropped from the squad for the showdown against Cremonese as a precautionary measure, and he has remained behind in Naples.
Napoli are wary of rushing the Belgian back into action too soon, a scenario which risks another injury nightmare.
“I never force things,” said Conte. “Romelu knows full well that he can return to the group when he feels ready. Then he’ll have to regain his fitness. He’s an important player for us.”
On loan from Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund has deputised admirably, scoring seven goals in his 19 appearances in all competitions.
VIDEO – Supercoppa Italiana al Napoli, la gioia post gara di Lukaku e Lang pic.twitter.com/OirVOtFfUH
— Napoli Magazine (@napolimagazine) December 23, 2025
When Romelu Lukaku Could Play Next
A definite return date has not been issued, with Conte likely to handle the delicate situation one match at a time.
As a result, it remains to be seen whether the target man will be included in the squad for the away game against Lazio on January 4, or against Verona three days later.
Lukaku’s absence has been compounded by injuries to Sam Beukema and Mathias Olivera, with both also missing out against Cremonese.
Dutchman Beukema is suffering from a bruised foot, while the latter has strained his calf. The duo picked up their respective issues during training sessions ahead of the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh.
Dan Davis
Dan is an experienced sports journalist and part-time lecturer. An expert on Serie A and Italian football, he has produced content for the likes of the Daily Mail, Reach PLC, GiveMeSport, FourFourTwo and GRV Media. While Channel 4's iconic Football Italia was a bit before his time, the nostalgia - and pastries - fuelled his love of all things Calcio.
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