AC Milan must now cope with Alexis Saelemaekers' long-term absence
In the training hall of San Siro, the Belgian winger Alexis Saelemaekers was on the ground, his right ankle clearly painful. Just after he had managed to get back into the starting eleven after six competitive matches, his season was abruptly disrupted.
New surgery after aggravated ankle injury
Saelemaekers injured his right ankle, the same one he had already required surgery on in 2024, at the end of September during a training session. Initially the damage seemed minor, but additional examinations revealed a serious loss of stability around the previous operation. The club announced that the player has now been operated on in Amsterdam, performed by Dr. Gino Kerkhoffs in the presence of Milan staff members Andrea Bulgheroni and Diego Mantovani. According to the medical staff, everything went well. For Milan, under manager Rúben Amorim, this creates a significant void in attack, especially now that the club has a busy October schedule with matches against Sassuolo, Salzburg, Atalanta, Bournemouth, Udinese, Bologna and Inter. Christian Pulisic therefore becomes even more important, while Alphadjo Cissé, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Ardon Jashari are in contention for more playing minutes.
The Belgian had recently positioned himself as an attacking midfielder who could create danger both centrally and from the wing. His combination with Gonçalo Ramos and Pulisic seemed to be slowly developing into a fixed formula. The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate, as Milan now has to anticipate a series of crucial matches without one of its most dynamic wingers.
The medical update was posted on Milan's official website, emphasizing that the operation proceeded without complications. The club, however, remains cautious and is counting on a lengthy rehabilitation process. For Saelemaekers himself, the prospect of a new, demanding rehabilitation is especially bitter, after he finally seemed to have fully recovered following earlier setbacks.
With the expectation that Saelemaekers will not return until 2027, Milan now has to reconsider its tactical options and give other players more responsibility in attack. The situation underscores how vulnerable a season can become due to a single injury.