Captain down! Juventus lose Locatelli until January in deepening injury crisis
Just as Juventus were starting to breathe again, the injury bug has bitten the most painful place: captain Manuel Locatelli is out until January.
Details: Locatelli will undergo surgery on his external meniscus after hurting his knee in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Milan at the Allianz Stadium. Tests confirmed an operation is required, with the meniscus repair route meaning around 100 days on the sidelines and a return only in January, as first reported by Nicolo Schira.
The timing could hardly be worse for Luciano Spalletti. Juventus are already navigating a full-blown injury crisis, with nine senior players unavailable after just three Serie A matches. Khephren Thuram is out until 2027 after knee surgery, Kenan Yildiz is targeting a November return from foot surgery, and Weston McKennie has missed the last two games with muscular fatigue. Losing the 28 year old captain, the one constant holding the midfield together, leaves a gaping hole just as the Europa League league phase kicks off. Locatelli, ironically, played the full 90 minutes against Milan despite the discomfort, a final act of defiance before going under the knife.
It's worth noting that Juventus chose the meniscus repair over a quicker trimming procedure, prioritizing the long-term health of their captain's knee over a faster return.
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Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
