Saelemaekers set to miss rest of 2026 as Milan winger opts for ankle surgery
Quick summary
AC Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers will undergo ankle surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of 2026.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceAlexis Saelemaekers is set to miss the rest of 2026 after opting for surgery on his right ankle, in a fresh blow for Milan.
According to Corriere dello Sport , the Belgian will be out for more than three months and isn’t expected back until the new year.
Saelemaekers sprained the ankle in training at Milanello on 29 September, and initial scans ruled out damage to the bones and ligaments. He kept feeling severe pain when he tried to work on it, however, which led to further tests.
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 statement on Saelemaekers’ ankle Milan confirmed yesterday that the sprain had affected the site of an operation he had in 2024, while on loan at Roma.
“Alexis Saelemaekers underwent further tests on his right ankle, the same one operated on in 2024 to treat a fracture of the medial malleolus,” the club said. “The specialist examinations showed that the ankle, following the recent trauma in training, has lost stability at the site of the previous surgery.”
The club said a specialist assessment was under way to choose between surgery and conservative treatment, but CorSport reports the player has already decided on an operation.
ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Ruben Amorim, Manager of AC Milan, looks on before 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) It caps a difficult start under Ruben Amorim, who had not made him a regular starter in the opening six games. Saelemaekers had hoped to use the break to win back his place and earn a Belgium recall, and he is said to be very low.
Alphadjo Cisse and Christian Pulisic are the first options to replace him. Omari Hutchinson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Adrien Rabiot and Diego Moreira are also in Amorim’s thinking until the January window.
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What happened
Alexis Saelemaekers, the Belgian winger currently on loan at Milan from Roma, has opted for ankle surgery to address a persistent issue. The procedure will sideline him for the rest of 2026, ruling him out of Milan's upcoming Serie A fixtures and any cup commitments. The length of the absence represents a significant blow to Milan's wide attacking options for the latter half of the season.
Chance analysis
Losing a versatile wide option like Saelemaekers for the remainder of the calendar year is a meaningful setback for Milan's depth chart, particularly in wing and wing-back roles where he has featured. His absence will likely force the Milan coaching staff to rely more heavily on alternative wide players and could affect tactical flexibility in the final months of 2026.
Milan lose a key wide player for the rest of 2026, weakening their attacking depth and requiring squad rotation adjustments.