Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku suffers a suspected thigh strain during a friendly match against Olympiacos, putting his availability for the opening Serie A game against Sassuolo in doubt.
Romelu Lukaku has suffered an injury scare during a friendly match against Olympiacos. Lukaku pulled up with a suspected thigh strain in the first half of the match, clutching the back of his left thigh after taking a shot.
He was subsequently substituted by Lorenzo Lucca, who could potentially start in attack against Sassuolo if Lukaku’s injury is confirmed.
The Belgian striker’s injury could be a significant blow to Napoli, who begin their title defence against Sassuolo on August 23 at the Mapei Stadium.
Lukaku was instrumental in Napoli’s Scudetto success last season, scoring 14 goals and providing 10 assists in 36 Serie A appearances. His absence would be deeply felt by the team, and Lucca would likely start in his place.
Initial suspicions suggest that Lukaku may have suffered a hamstring or thigh strain, which would rule him out of the opening Serie A game against Sassuolo. The striker sat on the bench with an ice pack strapped to his leg, indicating that Napoli’s medical staff are taking a cautious approach to his injury.
Lukaku’s injury history includes several instances of muscle strains, including a left hamstring strain in 2020 and a right quadriceps injury in 2021. Given his past struggles with injuries, Napoli’s medical staff will likely prioritise his recovery to ensure he is fit for the upcoming season.
