Juventus have confirmed that star winger Federico Chiesa will undergo surgery for the knee injury he sustained against AS Roma on Sunday evening. The Italian’s season is over.
Chiesa had begun 2022 with two goal contributions in as many games after missing the final month of 2021 with a thigh injury. He marked his return to action with a goal against Napoli on Thursday before he set up Paulo Dybala to draw Juve level in the first half on Sunday.
However, the 24-year-old was forced off before half-time after injuring his left knee in a challenge with Roma defender Chris Smalling. He tried to run it off but several minutes later, he went down for a second time after trying to burst away from Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
As he trudged off the field in considerable pain, many feared the worst over the extent of his injury. Those fears have now been realised.
Juventus confirm that Federico Chiesa will undergo surgery after suffering an ACL injury
An update on @federicochiesa's condition after #RomaJuve.
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) January 10, 2022
On Monday morning, a forlorn-looking Chiesa arrived at J|Medical on crutches to undergo scans on his left knee. After he left the facility, Juventus revealed the extent of the injury.
A statement read: “Federico Chiesa felt a blunt trauma sprain to his left knee. The diagnostic tests performed this morning at J|Medical revealed an injury of the anterior cruciate ligament.
“It will be necessary for the player to undergo surgery in the next few days.”
It’s horrible news for Chiesa and Juventus with the player a sure bet to miss the rest of the season. ACL injuries are devastating for anyone, but especially for players of Chiesa’s explosiveness. He lights up every stadium he steps foot on, and hopefully, we’ll see him fit and firing again at the start of the 2022/23 season ahead of the Qatar World Cup at the end of the year (providing that Italy qualify).
The Italian’s injury certainly dampens the mood in Turin this morning following Juve’s remarkable second-half turnaround in the Italian capital on Sunday evening.