Juventus, Milik mystery: 500 days out, January decision nears | OneFootball

Seventeen months of inactivity, a contract until 2027, and many uncertainties about his return. Juventus is considering how to manage Arkadiusz Milik ahead of the winter transfer window.

Juventus, the Milik mystery: 500 days off the pitch. A turning point for the Polish striker’s future expected in January

Officially, Igor Tudor’s Juventus has four strikers on the roster: Vlahovic, David, Openda, and Milik. But in reality, the Polish player’s name exists only on paper. Arkadiusz Milik hasn’t set foot on the pitch for over 500 days, an eternity for a forward who, up until his injury, was one of the most reliable certainties in the Bianconeri’s attacking lineup.

The ordeal began on June 7, 2024, with a serious meniscus injury suffered during a match with the Polish national team. His last appearance in a Juve shirt dates back to May 25, 2024, against Monza, while his last goal was on May 20, in the 3-3 draw against Bologna. Since then, everything has changed in Turin: new executives (Comolli, Chiellini, Modesto), new coaches (Thiago Motta first, Tudor now), but not the situation of the former Napoli and Marseille striker.

A recovery that isn’t coming

During the October break, Milik continued working at Continassa alongside other injured players, including Bremer, Miretti, and Cabal. Internal club sources report a calf muscle issue that is further delaying his return. Despite his constant commitment, there is still no concrete date for his comeback on the pitch.

A member of the technical staff explains:

“Milik is following a personalized program. The priority is to avoid relapses, but patience is needed.”

Time, however, is not on his side: with zero minutes played in the 2024-25 season, the risk is that the striker will end up permanently sidelined from the technical project.

Contract situation and market prospects

Milik’s contract with Juventus expires in June 2027, but the club is already considering a solution for January. After strengthening the attacking department with the arrival of Jonathan David, the Bianconeri management now wants to lighten the wage bill and resolve the situation of the Polish player, who still weighs on the accounts despite the salary restructuring carried out last summer.

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