Atalanta confirm Kossounou serious injury, out for at least 4-6 weeks
Quick summary
Atalanta have confirmed that defender Odilon Kossounou has suffered a serious injury and will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceAtalanta will be without Odilon Kossounou for at least a month after he was diagnosed with fairly serious lesion to the femoral bicep.
The defender had been ruled out of last night’s 2-0 Serie A defeat to Juventus after sustaining the injury in training.
However, the extent of the damage was only confirmed following in-depth medical tests this afternoon.
Kossounou setback for Atalanta BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 07: Keinan Davis of Udinese Calcio competes for the ball with Odilon Kossounou of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Udinese Calcio at New Balance Arena on March 07, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) A statement from Atalanta confirms Kossounou has a medium-high grade lesion to the femoral bicep in his left thigh.
This type of injury generally requires at least a month on the treatment table, so even with the long break for international duty, La Dea are unlikely to be able to welcome the defender back for their next fixtures.
Odilon Kossounou of Atalanta controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between BSC Young Boys and Atalanta BC at Stadion Wankdorf on November 26, 2024 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images) The 25-year-old Ivory Coast international had played in four Serie A games this season, plus both legs of the Conference League play-offs.
It is a further blow for Atalanta, who are already without defender Isak Hien and forward Kamaldeen Sulemana.
They suffered three consecutive Serie A defeats under coach Maurizio Sarri going into the break for international duty.
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What happened
Atalanta have officially confirmed that centre-back Odilon Kossounou has sustained a serious injury, ruling him out for a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks. The Ivory Coast international, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, has been a key figure in Atalanta's defensive setup this season. His absence leaves a significant gap in the backline during a demanding stretch of the Serie A and European calendar. Atalanta will need to rely on alternatives such as Isak Hien, Berat Djimsiti, and Sead Kolasinac to cover the centre-back position.
Chance analysis
Losing Kossounou for 4-6 weeks is a meaningful blow to Atalanta's defensive depth at a critical point in the season. The Ivorian has been integral to Gian Piero Gasperini's system, bringing pace and composure on the ball from the back. With the club competing on multiple fronts, the responsibility will shift to the remaining centre-backs, and Atalanta's recruitment or rotation choices in the coming weeks may reveal how confident the staff is in their internal options.
Atalanta lose a starting centre-back for 4-6 weeks, weakening defensive solidity and forcing reliance on squad alternatives during a congested fixture period.