Arkadiusz Milik’s Juventus career has turned into a story of frustration, setbacks, and mystery. Calciomercato detail how the Polish striker, who has been battling ongoing physical problems and a recovery that seems never-ending, has not played a competitive match for the Bianconeri for 539 days — a year and a half of absence that has increasingly puzzled fans and observers alike.
In recent weeks, Milik has resurfaced in public — though not on the pitch. Cameras caught him at the Allianz Stadium during the Derby della Mole, and later at the Pala Alpitour for the Nitto ATP Finals, where he met Carlos Alcaraz, who went on to beat Alex de Minaur. Beyond these brief appearances, however, there remains no clear timeline for his potential return to the Juventus squad.
A Long Battle with Injuries
Milik’s last appearance came on 25 May 2024, in Juventus’ final Serie A match of the season against Bologna — with Paolo Montero temporarily in charge on the bench. What followed was a continuous ordeal of injuries, beginning with a serious knee problem that required two separate operations in just a few months and forced him to miss the European Championship with Poland. His efforts to recover were then complicated by repeated muscle issues, leaving him permanently sidelined and unable to rejoin the team.
The Illusion of a Fresh Start
This past summer offered a glimmer of hope. The 1994-born forward travelled with Juventus to the Club World Cup and even appeared in the squad list for their game against Manchester City. It looked, at last, like the long wait might be coming to an end. But the optimism quickly faded. Milik didn’t play a single minute, either in the United States or after returning to Italy.
Then came another setback. On 25 July, he suffered a deep cut to his right shin after an accident in the gym — initially estimated as a minor injury with a week’s recovery time. Yet since then, Milik has completely disappeared from the scene once more, continuing to train individually and staying away from group activities.
An Uncertain Future
What now for Milik? The 31-year-old remains under contract with Juventus until June 2027 — a deal extended last April primarily to spread out his salary cost. But his future in Turin looks increasingly uncertain. The club’s plans no longer seem to include him, and a January transfer could be explored to find him a new destination.
Given his prolonged absence, however, finding a buyer may prove difficult. Unless Milik himself decides to alter the course of his career, his time at Juventus risks ending not with a farewell on the pitch, but in silence — the tale of an attacker lost to an endless injury struggle.
