Juventus preseason knee injury concerns

Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz is coping with a chronic patellar tendinopathy that limited his play last season and his participation with the Turkish national team. Medical staff warned the condition is difficult to manage and said surgery could become necessary if conservative treatment fails, with diagnostic exams scheduled around 20 July and a potential two‑to‑three‑month recovery period.

During the same period the club began its preseason camp at the Continassa training centre under new coach Luciano Spalletti. Midfielder Khéphren Thuram arrived early for medical testing, while Yildiz, who spent the summer in Germany, was expected to return to camp around 20 July for further assessment. Juventus aims to avoid overload and keep Yildiz fit for a demanding schedule that could exceed 50 matches, pending the medical team’s decision on surgery.

By 27 July 2026, Yildiz had made significant progress in his rehabilitation, allowing him to train partially with the first team and be evaluated for a gradual increase in training load. Spalletti expressed optimism that Yildiz could feature in the upcoming preseason friendlies against clubs such as Chelsea, Inter Milan and Palermo, and potentially join the squad’s Asian tour. Thuram is following a separate, cautiously paced recovery plan for his own knee issue; both players are expected to travel to Hong Kong later in the week, with the medical staff closely monitoring their conditions to avoid relapse before the new season begins.