Lameck Banda goes missing as Saudi interest throws Lecce future into doubt

Lecce and Zambia striker Lameck Banda has been unreachable for nearly two weeks, with the club confirming he failed to report for pre-season medical checks and has since cut all communication. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 25-year-old initially cited passport issues as the reason for his absence, but then went completely silent. The club fears he may be deliberately avoiding them - and that his heart is no longer in Serie A. At the end of last season, Lecce triggered an automatic contract extension that reduced Banda's wages. Shortly after, the forward received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Fateh. Now the Italian club can't even reach him. Whether Banda ever returns to Lecce remains uncertain, but all signs point to a permanent departure.