The injury alarm at Juventus has reached a new and devastating level. Manuel Locatelli — the squad’s captain, midfield pivot, and the one player most central to everything Spalletti is trying to build — has suffered an external meniscus injury during the Milan match and will require surgery. The most likely procedure is a meniscus suture — a more durable solution than simpler alternatives, but one that carries a recovery time of at least three months.
The confirmation arrives on Monday evening from Tuttosport’s Stefano Lanzo. Locatelli joins Thuram and McKennie in the infirmary, leaving Spalletti facing a midfield emergency of a severity nobody could have anticipated when the season began two weeks ago. With the captain now unavailable until at least December, the manager faces the challenge of reinventing an entire department — and has already identified one potential solution from within the club’s own development structure: Next Gen midfielder Owusu, who is now firmly in the frame for first-team promotion.
The Injury — Meniscus Surgery Confirmed as Necessary
The examinations conducted at the J-Medical centre confirmed the worst of the concerns that had emerged during Monday’s training session. The external meniscus of Locatelli’s right knee was damaged during Sunday’s match against Milan — the precise moment of injury not immediately identified, but the pain and subsequent assessment making the situation clear. Surgery is certain. The suture procedure — preferred for its durability over removal options — requires the full healing of repaired tissue, which cannot be accelerated. Three months is the minimum realistic timeline. His return in 2026 is not guaranteed.
The Full Injury Picture — a Squad in Crisis
The full list of Juventus’s unavailable players as of Monday evening now reads as follows, with approximate return timelines:
Thuram — knee surgery (chondroplasty), performed in Lyon. Return: 2027 at the earliest. At least four months.
Yıldız — surgery for fractured fifth metatarsal of the left foot, performed in Augsburg. Return: after the November international break. Approximately three months.
Locatelli — external meniscus surgery. Return: minimum three months. Will not play in 2026.
Ekhator — medium-grade semitendinosus lesion, right thigh. Return: approximately six weeks from diagnosis. Re-examination in two weeks to confirm timeline.
Cabal — low-grade semimembranosus lesion, left thigh. Return: several weeks.
Cambiaso — mild ankle sprain sustained against Parma. Return: timeline unclear but short-term.
McKennie — muscular fatigue. Missed Milan, hoped for Sassuolo. Return: imminent.
Sarr — muscular problem carried over from Tottenham, not yet at full fitness. Return: cautious integration ongoing.
Owusu: The Next Gen Solution for an Absolute Midfield Emergency
With Thuram, Locatelli, and McKennie all unavailable simultaneously — leaving Douglas Luiz and Koopmeiners as the only senior central midfielders currently fit — Spalletti has been left with almost no functional midfield depth at first-team level. The response will involve promoting talent from the Next Gen, and the player identified as the most ready to make that step is young midfielder Owusu, who has already been part of the Europa League squad list in List B. His promotion to active first-team duties during the international break period will be one of the most significant decisions of a season that, in its opening fortnight, has already been defined by crisis management rather than the attacking football Spalletti was planning to deliver.
