Juventus midfielder Teun Koopmeiners is taking extraordinary measures in an attempt to return to action sooner than expected following a rib injury. The Dutch player is set to wear a special protective armor around his ribcage to shield the affected area and potentially accelerate his comeback.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report recent medical examinations at J Medical confirmed Koopmeiners has suffered a “slightly displaced fracture of the second right anterior rib.” This injury forced him off at halftime during Juventus’ match against Cagliari and ruled him out of the Netherlands’ national team fixtures.
While the club is exercising caution, there’s a precedent that offers some hope. Last year, Manuel Locatelli faced a similar injury just before an international break but managed to play 30 minutes against Inter Milan after undergoing therapy at Continassa.
Juventus are not ruling out the possibility of Koopmeiners making a rapid recovery. The priority is to have him available for the crucial match against Inter Milan on October 27, but there’s a slim chance he could make the bench for the upcoming game against Lazio on October 19.
The club’s medical staff is custom-designing a protective vest for Koopmeiners to wear during training and matches. This specialized equipment aims to safeguard his injured rib area, allowing him to play with greater security and peace of mind.
Koopmeiners will test the protective gear next week when he resumes training. His comfort level and pain tolerance while wearing the armor will largely determine his availability for upcoming fixtures.
Coach Thiago Motta faces selection challenges with Koopmeiners’ uncertain status, coupled with injuries to other key players like Nico Gonzalez and the suspension of Francisco Conceiçao. As a contingency, Motta may revert to earlier season tactics, potentially fielding a trio of Mbangula, Yildiz, and Weah behind striker Dusan Vlahovic.
