Juventus fear Thuram may need surgery; Kessié reportedly turned down
Quick summary
Juventus are concerned that midfielder Khephren Thuram may require surgery, while Franck Kessié is reported to have rejected a move to the club.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceJuventus midfielder Khephren Thuram has not been called up for this evening’s Serie A match against Parma and will have a specialist consultation next week to decide whether to undergo knee surgery.
Juventus midfielder Thuram may need surgery for patellofemoral syndrome, which has troubled him since the end of last season.
PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Khephren Thuram of Juventus passes the ball during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 01, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) The French midfielder largely trained separately during the pre-season and missed the opening game of the Serie A campaign against Frosinone last week.
He’s not called up for this evening’s clash against Parma at the Allianz Stadium, and it might take a while before he returns to action.
Sky Sport and Gazzetta, in fact, report that Thuram will fly to France next week to visit Bertrand Sonnery Cottet, the same specialist who performed knee surgeries on Gleison Bremer (cruciate ligament and meniscus) and Federico Gatti (meniscus) in recent years.
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 06: Junior Messias of Genoa is challenged by Khephren Thuram of Juventus during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Genoa CFC at Allianz Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti didn’t hide his concern about Thuram’s fitness at a press conference on Friday, admitting he was “very worried.”
Juventus are already looking for a new central midfielder but have failed to reach an agreement with free agent Franck Kessié, and Thuram’s potential lengthy lay-off will further affect the Bianconeri in the middle of the park.
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What happened
Juventus face a potential double blow with Khephren Thuram reportedly at risk of going under the knife to resolve a persistent issue, which could rule the French midfielder out for an extended period. Separately, Franck Kessié is said to have turned down the opportunity to join Juventus, complicating their midfield reinforcement plans. The combination leaves Juventus short on options in the middle of the park heading into a crucial stretch of the season.
Chance analysis
Losing Thuram to surgery would strip Juventus of one of their most dynamic central midfielders, disrupting Artemio Vecchi's preferred shape at a delicate point in the campaign. With Kessié also reportedly unwilling to come in, the club's pursuit of midfield depth has stalled, meaning internal solutions or alternative targets will need to be found quickly. For Juventus supporters, the real concern is the cumulative effect on squad availability rather than either issue in isolation.
Juventus likely to be without Thuram for a significant period while their midfield recruitment options narrow after Kessié's refusal.