Milan relief as Saelemaekers tests reveal sprained ankle
Quick summary
AC Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers has been diagnosed with a sprained ankle, avoiding a more serious injury that could have caused a longer absence.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMilan have avoided a serious injury to Alexis Saelemaekers, with scans ruling out anything beyond a sprain.
According to Alfredo Pedullà , the Belgian sustained a twisting injury to his right ankle in Tuesday’s training session at Milanello. He was sent from the Carnago training centre for instrumental tests to establish the extent of the problem.
It follows more good news earlier on Tuesday , that confirmed that Strahinja Pavlovic’s injury is not too serious either.
ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Danilo Veiga of U.S. Lecce battles for the ball with Alexis Saelemaekers of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 20, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Milan breathe a sigh of relief as no bone or ligament damage for Saelemaekers Those examinations came back clear and there is no bone damage and no capsular or ligament involvement, and his recovery will be assessed on a day-by-day basis.
That leaves his availability for the return to Serie A uncertain but far from ruled out, and the international break gives him time that would not otherwise have been there. Milan’s next fixture is away to Sassuolo.
The timing would have been awkward for Ruben Amorim. Saelemaekers has been a squad option rather than a fixture in the 3-4-2-1 but Milan’s wide areas are already stretched, with Samuel Chukwueze, Davide Bartesaghi and Diego Moreira competing for the flanks and Christian Pulisic and Alphadjo Cisse operating inside them.
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What happened
AC Milan have received positive news regarding Alexis Saelemaekers, with medical tests confirming the Belgian winger has suffered only a sprained ankle. Initial fears suggested a potentially more significant injury, but scans have shown the damage is limited to ligament strain. Saelemaekers is expected to be sidelined for a short period rather than facing an extended layoff. The relief comes at a time when Milan are managing multiple fitness concerns across the squad.
Chance analysis
Avoiding a worst-case diagnosis is a small but meaningful boost for AC Milan, who would have been bracing for a longer-term absence had scans revealed structural damage. Saelemaekers offers versatility across the right flank and has been a regular rotation option this season. The timing allows Milan to plan around a short-term absence rather than reshuffling their attacking shape for an extended run of fixtures.
Milan lose a rotational winger for a short period but avoid a significant absence, with limited disruption to their attacking options.