Juventus Midfield Crisis Deepens with Locatelli Injury

Juventus have been hit by another brutal injury blow, with captain Manuel Locatelli set to undergo surgery on his external meniscus after limping out of Sunday’s draw with Milan.

Further tests, reported by TuttoSport, have confirmed that an operation is necessary. The preferred option is a meniscus repair – a more durable long-term solution, but one that will rule the midfielder out for at least three months. For a side already stretched in the middle of the pitch, the timing could hardly be worse.

Spalletti’s options shrinking fast

Luciano Spalletti already walked into the Serie A clash with Milan knowing his midfield was patched together. Now, the situation has tipped towards full-blown emergency.

Khephren Thuram is a long-term absentee, expected to be sidelined until 2027 after his own surgery. Weston McKennie has missed the last two matches with muscular fatigue and is still not ready to return. New signing Pape Sarr, brought in from Tottenham to inject energy and depth, was also unavailable against Milan due to a minor muscular issue and a lack of preparation time.

On the touchline in Frosinone on August 23, Spalletti cut a dejected figure during the match at Stadio Benito Stirpe. The picture from that day now feels like a snapshot of what was coming: a coach watching his resources drain away, one key player at a time.

Next Gen on standby

With Locatelli joining a growing injury list, Spalletti may be forced to dip into the club’s Next Gen ranks for solutions. Owusu is among the youngsters being seriously considered for a first-team opportunity, as Juventus scramble for fresh legs and fresh ideas.

And the problems are not confined to midfield.

Kenan Yildiz, recovering from foot surgery, is only expected back after the November international break. Jeff Ekhator and Juan Cabal each face roughly another month out. Andrea Cambiaso is also in the treatment room, working his way back from a minor ankle sprain.

For a squad built to compete on multiple fronts, Juventus now stare at a critical stretch of the season with their captain out, their depth tested, and their coach forced to trust youth sooner than planned. How quickly those youngsters adapt could define their campaign.