Locatelli Surgery Leaves Juventus With Only Two Fit Midfielders
Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli faces up to six months on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery for meniscus damage, headlining a severe selection emergency for manager Luciano Spalletti following three Serie A matches. Winger Jeremie Boga has also suffered a muscular injury, bringing the total number of sidelined first-team players in Turin to nine.
Locatelli Meniscus Repair Depletes Luciano Spalletti Selection Depth
The sudden loss of Locatelli severely restricts tactical options in the central third. With Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz, Weston McKennie, and Pape Matar Sarr all dealing with various physical setbacks, Juventus are reduced to just two fully fit senior starting midfielders.
Jeremie Boga
playerDouglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners represent the only available starting central options for the upcoming match schedule. Both players were made available for transfer during the summer window, but must now anchor the midfield structure in Spalletti’s setup.
The physical shortages extend beyond the central pivot into the defensive line and attacking units. Sidelined personnel across the senior squad include defender Juan Cabal and forward Jeff Ekhator alongside the unavailable midfield contingent.
Juventus
clubRecovery Timelines Extend Into 2027 Across Sidelined Senior Roster
Locatelli’s surgical procedure addresses structural meniscus damage sustained during domestic competition. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the midfielder’s rehabilitation phase is expected to keep him out of competitive action until late winter or early spring.
Boga’s muscular strain requires a short-term rehabilitation plan, with medical staff projecting a multi-week recovery period focused on a return after the approaching international fixture block. Thuram faces a longer rehabilitation pathway, targeting a return to full training in early 2027, while Yildiz continues treatment for a multi-month injury.