Ahi Locatelli: Juve loses its captain and the cornerstone of the midfield for (at least) three months.

An ice pack on the right knee, a few reassuring words after the match, and the idea that it was just the residue of a high-intensity game. Instead, the 1-1 draw with Milan at Allianz Stadium preceded one of the heaviest pieces of news at the start of the season for Juventus: captain Manuel Locatelli will need surgery and will not return before 2027. At the end of the match against the Rossoneri, Locatelli appeared with ice on his joint, a discomfort that seemed manageable. However, in the following hours, the pain did not subside. Tests and a specialist visit revealed a tear in the lateral meniscus of the right knee, for which surgery is necessary. The surgical route was deemed unavoidable. The surgery will be performed in Lyon, a city already chosen by the club for other procedures, in the presence of the Juventus medical director Luca Stefanini. It was in the capital of the Rhône that, on September 3, 2026, Khéphren Thuram underwent surgery by Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet at the Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz. For number 5, a break of no less than three months is anticipated; the final estimate will be calibrated after the surgery, based on the rehabilitation process. The timeline depends on the technique used: a meniscectomy (removal of the damaged portion) and a suture/repair require different loads and biological windows before returning to peak intensity. Full recovery could take around four months, pushing the return beyond the end of 2026. The absence of Locatelli creates a significant technical and leadership void for Luciano Spalletti. The captain is not just a starter: he is a reference point in managing the moments of the match, directing possession in front of the defense and providing coverage, closing passing lanes and keeping the team compact. A collective stability that will now need to be rebuilt. With the summer transfer market closed, countermeasures will have to come from within. Yes, but who? Teun Koopmeiners is usable deeper to raise the quality of the initial build-up; however, fixing him permanently in front of the defense risks limiting his impact between the lines and in the goal area; Douglas Luiz has the technique to receive under pressure and switch sides, but his centrality requires balance around the ball and a well-oiled defensive transition; Weston McKennie, when he is at 100%, can offer intensity, runs, and versatility, interpreting the role differently from the captain; Pape Matar Sarr, arrived at the end of the transfer market, expands the options with dynamism and field coverage; he needs time for optimal condition and to assimilate the coach's principles. The injury to Locatelli worsens an already critical situation: against Milan, the Bianconeri played with seven unavailable players. With the captain's absence and the concurrent muscle issue suffered by Jérémie Boga, the total rises to nine. The weight of the emergency is primarily qualitative: Locatelli joins Kenan Yildiz and Khéphren Thuram (who underwent chondroplasty for patellar chondropathy of the right knee) among the players who have gone under the knife. Additionally, Juan Cabal is sidelined due to a low-grade injury to the semimembranosus of the left thigh. The simultaneous absences reduce rotations and require careful management of workloads in view of the league away match against Sassuolo. For Manuel Locatelli, rehabilitation now begins, with the goal of restoring stability, strength, and confidence. Juventus will not rush the process, prioritizing the reliability of the knee in the medium to long term. The captain's 2026 competitive season is, in fact, compromised: the target is to have him back on the field in 2027.