Atalanta will be without Luis Muriel until 2023 after the Colombia international picked up an injury during training.
The striker had been expected to start this weekend’s Serie A top of the table showdown with Napoli at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, especially as he was coming back from suspension.
However, he sustained a muscular problem on Wednesday evening and tests have today shown a partial lesion to the top of the adductor in his right thigh.
Officially, the Atalanta medical staff will only say there is no way of knowing how long Muriel will be out of action for and that it depends on the daily progress he makes.
However, it is to be assumed Muriel will not be back in time for the final Serie A matches of this season in mid-November, so his 2022 ends here.
Colombia did not qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, so that is not a concern, but Atalanta will be eager to get Duvan Zapata back to full fitness as soon as possible to fill in.