Juventus Captain Locatelli Faces Meniscus Surgery

Juventus’ season has taken another heavy blow, with captain Manuel Locatelli set for surgery on an external meniscus injury that will rule him out for months.

The midfielder suffered the problem in Sunday’s draw with Milan, and, as reported by TuttoSport, subsequent tests have confirmed that an operation is unavoidable. The club’s medical staff are leaning towards a meniscus repair, the more robust long-term solution but one that will sideline Locatelli for at least three months.

For Luciano Spalletti, the timing could hardly be worse.

Spalletti’s midfield stripped bare

Juventus were already walking a tightrope in midfield. Now the rope is fraying.

Khephren Thuram is a long-term absentee, not expected back until 2027 after his own surgery. Weston McKennie has missed the last two matches with muscular fatigue, leaving Spalletti without another key option in the middle of the pitch.

New signing Pape Sarr, brought in from Tottenham to add energy and depth, was also unavailable against Milan. He arrived with a minor muscular issue and, crucially, without the necessary preparation to be thrown straight into Serie A action.

The result: a full-blown midfield emergency.

Next Gen on standby

With senior options disappearing one by one, Spalletti may have no choice but to dip into Juventus’ Next Gen squad.

Among the youngsters under consideration is Owusu, who could be fast-tracked into the first-team picture as the club scrambles for solutions. It is not the scenario Juventus envisaged when shaping their squad, but the situation is forcing bold decisions.

And the problems are not limited to midfield.

Kenan Yildiz is only expected to return after the November international break following foot surgery. Jeff Ekhator and Juan Cabal each face around another month out, further stretching Spalletti’s resources across the squad. Andrea Cambiaso is also on the treatment table, recovering from a minor ankle sprain.

The image of Spalletti looking dejected on the touchline in Frosinone in late August now feels like a warning. With his captain heading for the operating room and his options thinning by the week, how long can Juventus keep their season on track?