Udinese midfielder Piotrowski requires heart surgery, similar to McTominay
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Udinese midfielder Jakub Piotrowski is set to undergo heart surgery, following a similar procedure that Scott McTominay underwent earlier in his career.
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Attributed to original sourceAfter Scott McTominay of Napoli, it was announced that Udinese and Poland international midfielder Jakub Piotrowski will also have heart surgery to correct a benign arrhythmia.
With the improvement in testing and focus on spotting cardiac problems early, Serie A clubs are increasingly able to identify potential issues in their players.
Udinese and Napoli medics spot problems FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – JUNE 5: Scott McTominay of Scotland warms up during a training session at Florida Blue Training Center on June 5, 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images) Scotland international McTominay was diagnosed with a mild, benign arrhythmia and Napoli medical staff recommended ablation surgery to correct it.
That was performed this morning in Manchester , and he is expected to be out of action for around two months, following an initial two-week complete rest period.
UDINE, ITALY – DECEMBER 08: Jakub Piotrowski of Udinese celebrates scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Genoa CFC at Stadio Friuli on December 08, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) Udinese also announced that midfielder Piotrowski has been given a similar diagnosis after playing in the Serie A match against Lazio on Monday evening.
He too will go under the knife for a cardiac ablation procedure, and can return to playing football after the period of rest and recovery.
MONZA, ITALY – AUGUST 29: Jakub Piotrowski of Udinese celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Monza and Udinese Calcio at U-Power Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) The club statement confirms that the benign arrhythmia was spotted during the Serie A game, as players now have wearable tech that allows medical staff to track their cardiac function throughout matches.
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What happened
Udinese have confirmed that midfielder Jakub Piotrowski requires heart surgery to address a cardiac issue. The Polish international will undergo the procedure, which sidelines him indefinitely as he recovers. The situation draws parallels to Scott McTominay, who had a similar heart operation earlier in his career before going on to continue his career at the top level, including at Napoli. Udinese will need to adjust their midfield options during Piotrowski's absence.
Chance analysis
Piotrowski's heart surgery is a significant blow for Udinese, who lose a key midfield presence for an extended period. While the condition is serious, McTominay's successful return to elite football after the same procedure offers a hopeful precedent for the Polish international's long-term career. In the short term, Udinese's manager will need to find alternatives in central midfield, and the club may need to consider January reinforcement depending on the recovery timeline.
Piotrowski will be unavailable for an extended period, weakening Udinese's midfield options.