Juventus Confirms Cabal's ACL Injury; Balzaretti Praises Acerbi

Juventus has confirmed that full-back Juan Cabal has suffered an ACL injury and will undergo surgery, sidelining him for the season. Meanwhile, former Juventus and Roma fullback Federico Balzaretti has praised Inter Milan’s veteran Francesco Acerbi, stating he reads the game better than Napoli’s Alessandro Buongiorno despite recognizing Buongiorno’s strength. The latter had been linked with a move to Inter in the summer but eventually joined Napoli.

Juventus Confirms Cabal’s ACL Injury and Surgery

Juventus has officially announced that full-back Juan Cabal has torn the cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee and will undergo surgery soon.

“Today, the player Juan Cabal underwent diagnostic tests at JMedical, which revealed a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee,” a statement on the club website read.

“Cabal will undergo surgery in the next few days,” it concluded.

The summer signing was called up for international duty with Colombia and had to return to Turin due to a suspected ACL injury, which has now been confirmed.

Local reports, including Ilbianconero.com, indicate that the 23-year-old’s season is likely finished.

Cabal becomes the second defender Juventus has lost to a cruciate ligament injury this season after center-back Gleison Bremer was sidelined during the Champions League win over RB Leipzig in early October.

Since joining Juventus from Hellas Verona in the summer, Juan Cabal has made an impact, featuring in seven Serie A matches and two Champions League games. His performances earned him a spot in the squad, but unfortunately, his season has been cut short due to a serious ACL injury.

In light of Cabal’s injury, along with the earlier setback of Gleison Bremer, Juventus is actively considering their options for the January transfer window to bolster their defense. While the club is exploring potential signings, reports from Thursday afternoon suggest that the Bianconeri may choose to promote from within their ranks, rather than pursuing an external replacement for the Colombian. This strategy would allow the team to address the issue without adding new faces midseason.

Ex-Juventus & Roma Fullback: “Reads plays better than Buongiorno”

The Nerazzurri veteran recently returned to action and quickly displayed his skill in the crucial match against Napoli.

The 36-year-old successfully contained Romelu Lukaku, repeating his success from last season when the Belgian was at Roma.

The two could have faced off again tonight in the UEFA Nations League match between Belgium and Italy.

While the Red Devils included the striker in their squad, Luciano Spalletti chose to exclude Acerbi.

Instead of opting for a new signing or rotation, the former Napoli manager has decided to place his trust in Alessandro Buongiorno for tonight’s match. Buongiorno, who has shown impressive consistency in defense, will now have the responsibility of stepping up in a crucial fixture. His solid performances this season make him a reliable choice to take on the challenge.

The exciting part of this matchup is that Buongiorno could find himself facing off directly against his club teammate, Romelu Lukaku. The two know each other well from training, but when it comes to game time, it promises to be an intriguing battle. Lukaku, with his physicality and attacking prowess, will pose a serious threat, while Buongiorno will look to showcase his defensive skills and tactical awareness to keep the Belgian forward at bay. This clash of styles adds an extra layer of excitement to what is already shaping up to be a thrilling encounter.

Balzaretti Compares Acerbi to Buongiorno

Balzaretti acknowledges Buongiorno’s strength but insists Acerbi excels at reading the game.

“I really like Acerbi. He has concentration and great leadership,” noted the 42-year-old in his interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio via FcInterNews.

“Many things change at Inter when he’s on the pitch.