Napoli have received troubling news as defender Alessandro Buongiorno has been sidelined due to a serious injury sustained during training. This setback comes on the heels of another injury to star player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, further complicating the team’s situation.
In an official statement, Napoli confirmed that Buongiorno suffered a fracture to the transverse processes of two lumbar vertebrae following a fall during practice. The club announced, “Alessandro Buongiorno was injured today in training. The Italian defender will begin rehabilitation starting tomorrow.”
Initial reports suggest that Buongiorno could be out of action for at least one to one and a half months, which would mean missing several crucial matches, including upcoming fixtures against Genoa, Venezia, Fiorentina, and Verona. Napoli hopes to have him back by mid-January when they face Atalanta and Juventus in consecutive matches.
Buongiorno has been a key figure in Napoli’s defense this season, having played every minute of the league matches since the opening day, except for a single game due to injury. His absence will be felt significantly as coach Antonio Conte will need to find suitable replacements to maintain the team’s defensive strength.
With Buongiorno out, potential alternatives include Juan Jesus and new signing Rafa Marin, who is yet to make his Serie A debut but has played in Coppa Italia. If Conte opts for a tactical shift, he may also consider deploying Giovanni Di Lorenzo or Matias Olivera as center-backs.
