Overview
- Lukaku told Belgian media on Wednesday that 2025 was “the worst year” of his life and that claims he was unfit were false, saying those statements were used to push him out of Napoli.
- He suffered a serious thigh injury in August 2025 during a preseason friendly with Olympiacos that sharply reduced his appearances and led to repeated relapses and disputes over treatment.
- Those disagreements included Lukaku returning to Belgium for care rather than staying with Napoli’s medical staff, a split that sources say contributed to the collapse of his relationship with the club.
- This summer he signed for Fenerbahçe on a short-term deal for a reported fee of about €6 million plus add-ons and has already made brief appearances as he says he rebuilds his form.
- The episode ties together personal trauma—his father’s death and reported extortion around the funeral—questions over club medical management, and the wider issue of how high-profile injuries can shape a player’s career and reputation.