6-Month Lay-off Confirmed as Manuel Locatelli Undergoes Knee Surgery
Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli faces five to six months on the sidelines following surgery to repair meniscus damage in his knee. The Italy international sustained the issue during Sunday’s 1-1 Serie A draw against AC Milan before undergoing an operation in Lyon on September 8. Initial estimates suggested a shorter recovery window, but post-operative medical evaluations confirmed an extended rehabilitation process that rules him out until early 2027.
Meniscus Surgery in Lyon Extends Manuel Locatelli Recovery Window at Juventus
The prolonged absence of Locatelli places severe physical demands on a heavily compressed Juventus roster. Selection depth in the central corridor is acutely restricted, with midfield colleagues Khephren Thuram, Weston McKennie, and Pape Matar Sarr all currently sidelined due to health issues. The broader fitness crisis extends across the entire squad, as Jeremie Boga faces approximately five weeks out with a thigh lesion alongside ongoing absences for Kenan Yildiz, Jeff Ekhator, Juan Cabal, and Andrea Cambiaso.
Juventus
clubRehabilitation Milestones and Squad Management Strategy for Juventus
Surgeons in Lyon completed the procedure to address the structural meniscus damage on September 8. Locatelli will remain static before beginning early-stage physical therapy, eventually progressing to non-impact mobility work and sport-specific field conditioning during his multi-month recovery plan.
Locatelli must complete targeted strength restoration around the knee joint and clear clinical stability tests before receiving approval to return to full squad sessions. With no accelerated timeline planned, Juventus medical staff will monitor his physical benchmarks as he targets a competitive return during the second half of the 2026, 27 season.
