Lukaku and Conte feud rumbles on as Italian boss aims thinly-veiled dig at star

Napoli boss Antonio Conte aimed a thinly-veiled dig at Romelu Lukaku on Friday as their feud rumbles on.

Lukaku, 32, hit the headlines last month when he failed to turn up for training after pulling out of international duty with Belgium due to injury.

Napoli, who signed Lukaku in 2024 following two season-long loan spells at fellow Italian sides Inter Milan and Roma, released a strongly worded statement at the time.

It read: 'Napoli announce that Romelu Lukaku did not respond to today's call-up ahead of the resumption of training. The club reserves the right to evaluate the adoption of appropriate disciplinary measures as well as the continuation of the player's participation in the team on an indefinite basis.'

Lukaku, who was fined for his unauthorised absence, returned to Naples earlier this week and eventually received permission to complete the final stages of his rehabilitation in Belgium.

Reports had suggested that during his visit, he met with both Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna and Conte to smooth over the situation.

However, speaking after Napoli's 4-0 win over Cremonese, Conte reignited the feud and suggested those reports weren't entirely true, raising serious questions over Lukaku's future.

'I haven’t had a chance to talk to him,' Conte told DAZN. 'I know that one of our directors did, and he came to the training centre.

'My office is there, but no one knocked on my door. That disappointed me. I had expected a greeting, a message or something like that.

'In these kinds of situations, the coach tries to understand everyone, but no one makes an effort to understand the coach. I hadn’t expected this situation.'

Explaining his absence at the time, Lukaku admitted he has been struggling psychologically for the majority of the 2025-26 season.

Due to a series of injury problems and the arrival of Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United, the Belgian has endured a frustrating campaign and featured only seven times across all competitions, scoring one goal.

His father Roger also passed away last September at the age of 58.

'This season has been a lot for me from dealing with the injury and the personal loss,' the former United and Chelsea forward wrote on Instagram.

'I know there has been a lot of noise about my situation in the last few days and it's important to clarify the whole situation.

'The truth is the last few weeks I wasn't feeling right physically and I had it checked out while I was in Belgium. It showed me that there was an inflammation and liquid on my hip flexor muscle next to my scar tissue since it is the second problem I have had since coming back in early November.'

He continued: 'I chose to do the rehab in Belgium so I can help the when called upon. I think most of you saw the interview I did in Verona.

'There's nothing more I would love to do than play and win for my team. But right now I have to make sure I am clinically 100 per cent because I haven't been recently and it took a toll mentally.

'It's been a lot this year. But in the end I will get there and help Napoli and the national team to their respective objectives when called upon. That's all I want.'

Friday's victory over Cremonese left Napoli in second place in Serie A, although they are nine points behind leaders Inter Milan and have played a game more.