Romelu Lukaku has failed to report for training with Manchester United after seeing his hopes of a move to Juventus collapse.
The Belgium international has stayed away from the club’s Carrington training base, despite the rest of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad reporting for duty on Tuesday.
Lukaku is training with Anderlecht back in his homeland in a bid to stay fit as he hopes a move away can still be secured before the European transfer deadline.
United would not comment on the reasons behind his absence or confirm whether he had been given permission to return to his homeland.
Sources close to Lukaku say he accepts a move to Juve is all but dead after United pulled out of talks with Paulo Dybala over a potential swap deal.
Inter Milan remain interested - but Lukaku fears the Italians will not be able to meet his £80m valuation.
The 26-year-old does not figure in Solskjaer’s plans and faces a season on the sidelines if he remains.
United are still hoping to add to their attacking options after dropping interest Nicolas Pepe and ending negotiations with Dybala due to the Argentine’s wage demands and excessive agent fees.
Talks with Juve forward Mario Mandzukic have also stalled.
United expected to have Lukaku’s future resolved before Thursday’s Premier League transfer deadline.
But with the windows in Italy and Spain extending into September, the uncertainty looks set to go on beyond the start of the season.
