Juventus Midfield Crisis Deepens After Locatelli Injury
Juventus have been hit by another brutal injury blow, with captain Manuel Locatelli set for surgery on an external meniscus injury that will rule him out for months.
The midfielder sustained the damage during Sunday’s draw with Milan. Further examinations, reported by TuttoSport, have now confirmed the worst: an operation is necessary. The club’s preferred route is a meniscus repair, the more robust long-term fix, but one that is expected to sideline Locatelli for at least three months.
For Luciano Spalletti, it rips a hole straight through the heart of his team.
Spalletti’s options vanish
Juventus were already walking a tightrope in midfield. Khephren Thuram is out long term, not expected back 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 add legs and energy, was also unavailable against Milan. He arrived with a minor muscular issue and without the necessary preparation to be thrown straight into a game of that intensity.
The result is a full-blown emergency in the centre of the pitch.
Spalletti, pictured looking dejected on the touchline in Frosinone during the Serie A clash with Frosinone Calcio at Stadio Benito Stirpe on August 23, 2026, now has to improvise again. The structure he has tried to build keeps losing its key pieces.
Next Gen on standby
With senior options dropping one by one, Juventus are increasingly likely to dip into their Next Gen squad. Among the youngsters under consideration is Owusu, who could be fast-tracked into a first-team role as Spalletti searches for fresh legs and fresh ideas.
The problems do not stop in midfield.
Kenan Yildiz, recovering from foot surgery, is only expected back after the November international break. Jeff Ekhator and Juan Cabal are each facing roughly another month out. Andrea Cambiaso is also on the treatment table, working his way back from a minor ankle sprain.
A captain gone, a midfield stripped, a squad stretched. Spalletti now has to find solutions in-house and trust youth at a time when Juventus can least afford to hesitate.
