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<v Speaker 1>Napoli have confirmed that thirty three year old Belgian international

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<v Speaker 1>striker Romulu Lucaku has not joined the first team squad

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<v Speaker 1>for their ongoing preseason preparations under new manager Massimiliano Allegri,

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<v Speaker 1>despite being scheduled to report back on August fifth. Following

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<v Speaker 1>his participation at the twenty twenty six FIFA World Cup

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<v Speaker 1>in North America, Lucaku has remained training individually away from

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<v Speaker 1>the group as negotiations regarding his permanent exit from the

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<v Speaker 1>Stadio Diego Armando Maradona gather speed. The Belgian forward is

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<v Speaker 1>entering the final year of his contract at Napoli, but

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<v Speaker 1>his future at the club reached a turning point following

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<v Speaker 1>an injury plagued twenty twenty five to twenty six campaign.

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<v Speaker 1>After playing a pivotal role in Napoli's twenty twenty four

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<v Speaker 1>to twenty five Serie A title triumph under Antonio Conti,

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<v Speaker 1>Lucacu suffered a severe left thigh muscle taire during the

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<v Speaker 1>August twenty twenty five preseason that sidelined him for most

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<v Speaker 1>of the year, limiting him to just five appearances. Relation

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<v Speaker 1>friction between the player and executive directors deepened over the summer,

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<v Speaker 1>with his agent Federico Pastorello publicly stating that Lucaku would

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<v Speaker 1>not accept a rotational or back up role behind primary

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<v Speaker 1>starting options. With Napoli owner or Rilio de Larentis eager

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<v Speaker 1>to offload his eleven million euro annual salary, the club

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<v Speaker 1>is actively seeking a transfer fee of around seven million

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<v Speaker 1>euros to ten million euros to grant his departure. Major

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<v Speaker 1>League Soccer side Atlanta United have emerged as the primary suitor,

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<v Speaker 1>opening direct talks with Napoli after freeing up a designated

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<v Speaker 1>player roster slot. As final parameters are negotiated between the clubs,

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<v Speaker 1>Lucaku's absence from pre season training confirms that his two

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<v Speaker 1>year spell in Naples is rapidly drawing to a close