Juventus Captain Locatelli Faces Meniscus Surgery Blow

Juventus have been hit by another brutal injury blow, with captain Manuel Locatelli set for surgery on an external meniscus injury that could rule him out for at least three months.

The midfielder sustained the problem during Sunday’s draw with Milan. Initial concern has now hardened into bad news: as reported by TuttoSport, further tests have confirmed that an operation is necessary. The preferred route is a meniscus repair, judged the more durable long-term solution, but one that comes with a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

For Luciano Spalletti, it changes everything in the middle of the pitch.

Spalletti’s midfield stripped bare

Juventus were already walking a tightrope in midfield. Now it looks dangerously close to snapping.

Khephren Thuram is out of the picture until 2027 after his own surgery, removing one of the key pillars Spalletti had hoped to build around. Weston McKennie has missed the last two matches with muscular fatigue, another body lost in a department that suddenly looks alarmingly thin.

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

So Spalletti watched his side scrap through against Milan knowing his options were shrinking by the week. Now his captain joins the list.

Next Gen on standby

With senior options evaporating, the solution may come from below.

Juventus are considering dipping into their Next Gen squad, with Owusu among the youngsters under serious consideration for a first-team chance. It would be a big step up, but the situation is turning from difficult to desperate.

The midfield isn’t the only area creaking.

Kenan Yildiz is only expected back after the November international break as he continues his recovery from foot surgery. Jeff Ekhator and Juan Cabal are each looking at roughly another month out, leaving depth issues across the squad. Andrea Cambiaso is also sidelined, though his minor ankle sprain is viewed as a shorter-term concern.

The image of Spalletti on the touchline in Frosinone in August — head bowed, shoulders heavy during the Serie A match at Stadio Benito Stirpe — suddenly feels like a snapshot of the months ahead. His captain gone, his midfield stripped, his squad stretched.

The question now is simple and ruthless: can Juventus hold their nerve and their level while waiting for their spine to heal?