Speaker 1: Napoli have confirmed that thirty three year old Belgian international
Speaker 1: striker Romulu Lucaku has not joined the first team squad
Speaker 1: for their ongoing preseason preparations under new manager Massimiliano Allegri,
Speaker 1: despite being scheduled to report back on August fifth. Following
Speaker 1: his participation at the twenty twenty six FIFA World Cup
Speaker 1: in North America, Lucaku has remained training individually away from
Speaker 1: the group as negotiations regarding his permanent exit from the
Speaker 1: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona gather speed. The Belgian forward is
Speaker 1: entering the final year of his contract at Napoli, but
Speaker 1: his future at the club reached a turning point following
Speaker 1: an injury plagued twenty twenty five to twenty six campaign.
Speaker 1: After playing a pivotal role in Napoli's twenty twenty four
Speaker 1: to twenty five Serie A title triumph under Antonio Conti,
Speaker 1: Lucacu suffered a severe left thigh muscle taire during the
Speaker 1: August twenty twenty five preseason that sidelined him for most
Speaker 1: of the year, limiting him to just five appearances. Relation
Speaker 1: friction between the player and executive directors deepened over the summer,
Speaker 1: with his agent Federico Pastorello publicly stating that Lucaku would
Speaker 1: not accept a rotational or back up role behind primary
Speaker 1: starting options. With Napoli owner or Rilio de Larentis eager
Speaker 1: to offload his eleven million euro annual salary, the club
Speaker 1: is actively seeking a transfer fee of around seven million
Speaker 1: euros to ten million euros to grant his departure. Major
Speaker 1: League Soccer side Atlanta United have emerged as the primary suitor,
Speaker 1: opening direct talks with Napoli after freeing up a designated
Speaker 1: player roster slot. As final parameters are negotiated between the clubs,
Speaker 1: Lucaku's absence from pre season training confirms that his two
Speaker 1: year spell in Naples is rapidly drawing to a close