Romelu Lukaku will be able to represent Belgium in their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers after all, according to a report in the Belgian media.
Inter’s non-Italian players were released by Milan’s local health authority (ATS) today to join up with their national teams, on the condition they only took part in training sessions and didn’t play in matches.
However, Belgian news outlet hln.be (via FcInter1908.it) has explained that the 27-year-old will in fact be available to Roberto Martinez for their fixtures against Wales, Czech Republic and Belarus.
The reason Lukaku can be selected is because he is now subject to the Belgian government’s own COVID-19 rules, which will overrule the instructions from Milan’s ATS and decree he is eligible to play.
Inter had spoken about their players not being able to participate in matches once they have flown home, the report explained, because that would breach the rules announced by the ATS on Thursday.
Those orders are no longer legally valid in Belgium, though, freeing Lukaku to play for the Red Devils over the next fortnight.
Belgium will host Wales on Wednesday before visiting the Czech Republic on Saturday, finishing their trio of matches at home to Belarus on March 30.