Explaining the knee injury plaguing Juventus star Chiesa

Juventus forward Federico Chiesa reacts during the Italian Serie A football match between Genoa and Juventus at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, on December 15, 2023. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Federico Chiesa has missed three of Juventus’ last five league matches with a nagging injury, something that’s left fans in Turin concerned.

The 26-year-old Italian winger has been in good form this season, his first proper campaign back after the anterior cruciate ligament rupture he suffered two years ago. He clearly had a point to prove at the start of the term, scoring four goals and providing one assist in his first five games.

In recent weeks, vague knee issues have kept Chiesa sidelined for the wins over Frosinone, Salernitana and Lecce, and left him with just cameo appearances in the wins over Sassuolo and Roma. His troubles have started to generate concern amongst Juventus supporters.

Calciomercato.com detailed the reason behind Chiesa’s struggles with knee concerns this season, noting how the Juventus winger is suffering from a bone edema.

This issue is characterised by the accumulation of fluid in the internal part of the bone, which the structural capacity of the bone to absorb loads, leaving it to get swollen and pained with simple contact.

Frustratingly for Chiesa, this injury has a simple but clear remedy – rest. The bone edema needs to be reabsorbed naturally through rest, leaving it difficult for a professional athlete to maintain a good level of match fitness whilst also progressing their recovery.