Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu has suffered a setback that could keep him out of action for an extended period. The French center-back sustained a low-grade lesion to the tendon of the semimembranosus muscle in his right thigh during the Champions League match against Benfica.
Kalulu was forced to leave the field early in the game after attempting a sliding tackle. He initially tried to continue but ultimately had to be substituted, with Manuel Locatelli taking his place.
The injury compounds Juventus’ disappointment following their 2-0 defeat to Benfica, which relegates them to the Champions League playoffs. They now face the prospect of a challenging tie, possibly against AC Milan, to reach the Round of 16.
This morning, Kalulu underwent medical examinations at J|Medical, Juventus’ health facility. The initial hour-long visit raised concerns, and subsequent tests confirmed the tendon injury. This type of injury is similar to one Kalulu experienced last year while playing for AC Milan, though the current case appears less severe.
Juventus released an official statement confirming the diagnosis and announcing that Kalulu will undergo further examinations in about 10 days to determine a more precise recovery timeline.
The injury comes at a crucial time for Juventus, with February set to be a pivotal month in their quest for Champions League qualification. Kalulu is certain to miss the upcoming Serie A match against Empoli on February 2 and the following fixture against Como on February 9.
