AC Milan have officially announced that midfielder Ismael Bennacer will be out of action for four months after undergoing surgery on his right calf. The procedure was performed in Finland by Dr. Lasse Lempainen, a specialist in sports-related injuries.
The 26-year-old Algerian international sustained the injury while on duty with his national team last week. The severity of the issue became apparent when Bennacer was spotted at an airport in Algeria, being transported in a wheelchair with an assistant carrying crutches.
Despite this significant setback, Milan has decided not to seek a replacement in the free agent market. Instead, manager Paulo Fonseca will look to bolster his midfield options by relying on new signing Silvano Vos and promoting talented youngster Kevin Zeroli from the Milan Futuro youth setup.
The timing of Bennacer’s injury is particularly unfortunate for the Rossoneri, who are facing a crucial stretch of matches. They are set to host Liverpool at San Siro in their opening 2024-25 Champions League fixture on Tuesday, followed by the season’s first derby della Madonnina against city rivals Inter Milan on Sunday.
Bennacer’s absence will undoubtedly be felt in the Milan midfield, where his energy and technical ability have been key components of the team’s play.
