Thuram Faces Key Decision as Knee Trouble Worsens

Khephren Thuram’s Juventus season is on hold before it has even begun. The French midfielder has been left out of the squad for this evening’s Serie A clash with Parma and now heads into a decisive week that could end with knee surgery.

Thuram has been battling patellofemoral syndrome since the end of last season, an issue that never truly settled and has shadowed his summer. He spent most of pre-season working away from the main group, and the warning signs were clear when he missed the opening league fixture against Frosinone.

Turning Point

Now comes the turning point.

According to reports from Sky Sport and Gazzetta, Thuram will travel to France next week for a consultation with renowned knee specialist Bertrand Sonnery Cottet. He is the same surgeon who operated on Gleison Bremer for cruciate ligament and meniscus damage and on Federico Gatti for a meniscus problem in recent years, a track record that underlines the seriousness of Juventus’ approach.

If surgery is recommended, Thuram could be out for a significant spell, a blow for a Juventus side that had planned to build part of its midfield structure around his physical presence and ability to drive play.

The club is already feeling the impact. Thuram is again absent tonight at the Allianz Stadium against Parma, and the sense is that his return is not around the corner.

Luciano Spalletti did little to calm nerves. Speaking on Friday, the Juventus coach openly admitted he was “very worried” about the midfielder’s condition, a rare moment of blunt concern from a coach who usually keeps injury talk tightly controlled.

For Juventus, the next appointment on Thuram’s calendar may prove just as important as any date on the fixture list.