Lazio, Rovella out after groin surgery, back in January for Napoli | OneFootball

The absence of Nicolò Rovella continues to represent one of the most challenging tactical issues for Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio. The midfielder, born in 2001 and a pillar for both the team’s build-up play and overall balance, has been sidelined since the days following the late September derby, when the symptoms of pubalgia became unbearable.

Rovella set to return in January: Sarri awaits him for the key match against Napoli

Initially, the Biancoceleste medical staff opted for conservative therapy, hoping to avoid surgery. However, the condition proved to be stubborn: rest and targeted treatments were not enough to alleviate the pain, a sign of the insidious and complex nature of pubalgia. Faced with the persistence of the problem and the risk of relapses, the decision to proceed with surgery became inevitable. The operation was successfully performed in November. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the post-operative sensations are decidedly encouraging, and the recovery plan set by Lazio is proceeding smoothly. A first positive sign is expected as early as next week, when the player could resume light training, entering the muscle reactivation phase.

The watchword at Lazio, however, is absolute caution. After such a delicate injury, rehabilitation is a two-phase process: first, the functional recovery of the operated area, then the essential re-athletization phase. The latter is crucial for regaining endurance, quickness in changing direction, and full confidence in explosive movements. Only after completing this long process will Rovella be able to reintegrate into Sarri’s high-intensity squad. The forecast for his return to the field is set for January 2026, precisely when the Biancocelesti will face Napoli. It’s a date the club considers realistic, but it is strictly dependent on the player’s clinical progress. Sarri, aware that Rovella—with his 78 appearances for Lazio, in addition to his experiences with Genoa, Monza, and Juventus—remains indispensable to his system, awaits his playmaker’s full recovery with cautious optimism.

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.