Day: August 19, 2025

Romelu Lukaku Suffers Serious Thigh Injury

Romelu Lukaku has suffered a serious muscle injury to his left thigh, his club Napoli announced on Monday. The Italian side did not specify how long the Belgian striker will be out, but reports suggest he could be sidelined for several months, reports 24brussels.

Tests revealed a significant injury to the rectus femoris, a muscle located at the front of the thigh. Napoli confirmed that Lukaku has already begun rehabilitation and will undergo surgery, with expected recovery time of at least three months.

The 32-year-old experienced the injury during last Thursday’s pre-season friendly against the Greek side Olympiakos. Approximately half an hour into the match, he clutched his left leg and requested to be substituted, exiting the pitch with a limp.

This injury represents a serious setback for Lukaku. He will miss the start of the Serie A season and the first half of Belgium’s World Cup qualifying campaign, facing six crucial matches in September, October, and November.

“He’s already looking ahead and asking: when can I play again?”

No Long-Term Impact Expected

The injury stands as the most severe of Lukaku’s career to date. However, his physiotherapist, Lieven Maesschalck, asserts that the striker is motivated to recover swiftly. “An injury is always unfortunate, but Rom is able to turn the page quickly,” he stated to Sporza. “He’s already looking ahead and asking: when can I play again?”

Maesschalck also confirmed that the injury is not expected to affect the rest of Lukaku’s career. “Making a full recovery will be no problem at all,” he said. “Rehabilitation will be hard work. If it’s not done properly, it can take a long time. But we’re used to that.”

Zelenskyy Executes Strategic Diplomatic Outreach with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, to Melania Trump expressing gratitude for her efforts to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to return 20,000 kidnapped Ukrainian children. Zelenskyy handed the letter to Trump during their meeting on Monday, aiming to enhance diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Ukraine, reports 24brussels.

“Let me thank your wife. Because she sent a letter concerning our children, and my wife, the first lady of Ukraine, gave her the letter,” Zelenskyy stated. The interaction underscores Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to secure U.S. support amid its protracted conflict with Russia.

Trump reciprocated Zelenskyy’s gesture by thanking Kartavtsev for a golf club and presenting Zelenskyy with a symbolic set of keys to the White House, as reported by the Ukrainian president’s office.

This meeting marked a significant improvement over their initial encounter in February, where Zelenskyy faced criticism from Trump and his deputy, JD Vance, for his attire and perceived lack of gratitude for American support. Determined to avoid similar setbacks, Zelenskyy arrived in the U.S. accompanied by a group of European leaders and donned a tailored suit with military accents.

Zelenskyy took every opportunity to express appreciation for U.S. aid, while politely refraining from correcting Trump’s exaggeration regarding American financial support, which totals €114.63 billion since the onset of the war, according to the Kiel Institute.

The diplomatic maneuvering appears to have yielded positive results, as Trump highlighted the significance of his meeting with Zelenskyy, discussing potential U.S. involvement in security guarantees for Ukraine following a peace agreement. Remarkably, Trump’s stance seemed to evolve as he suggested that a ceasefire would not be a prerequisite for peace talks between Zelenskyy and Putin, yet he refrained from addressing the critical issue of land exchanges that would affect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.