The 28-year-old will miss Napoli’s Serie A matches against Atalanta, Fiorentina and Roma, and will be hoping to return for the clash against Empoli on April 24.
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Napoli full-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo will be sidelined for about a month with a knee injury. The Italian is set to miss big games for Napoli, which will be crucial in the context of the Scudetto race and also Italy’s World Cup play-offs. Luciano Spalletti’s side are currently placed second in the standings with 63 points from 30 games, just three points behind leaders AC Milan, therefore the upcoming matches are going to be crucial for the Partenopei.
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? Di Lorenzo suffers knee strain
? #ForzaNapoliSemprehttps://t.co/9s303YxViC
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) March 20, 2022
The right-back sprained his right knee during a collision with Udinese goalkeeper Marco Silvestri on Saturday. He was spotted leaving the stadium on crutches and the tests revealed the defender has sustained a Grade II sprain and he has therefore been released back to the Napoli medical team. The injury has forced the 28-year-old to pull out of Italy’s squad for the World Cup play-offs.
Di Lorenzo will undergo conservative treatment. He will miss Napoli’s Serie A matches against Atalanta, Fiorentina and Roma, and will be hoping to return for the clash against Empoli on April 24.
Meanwhile it is a huge blow for both Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti and Italy national team head coach Roberto Mancini. Di Lorenzo had started all 39 matches for the club this season. He would’ve likely been in the starting XI for the Azzurri in the all important playoffs against North Macedonia at Stadio Barbera in Palermo on Thursday.
The winner of that match will go on to play either Portugal or Turkey on March 29 for a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Meanwhile Mancini has brought in Juventus’ Mattia De Sciglio to replace Di Lorenzo in the Italy squad.
