What Gleison Bremer’s ACL Injury Means For Juventus
Gleison Bremer has played a vital role for Juventus (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Juventus faced numerousChallenges during their UEFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Champions League match against RB Leipzig, yet they managed to secure a hard-fought victory. However, this win has come at a significant cost to the Turin club.
The RedBull Arena had its share of memorable highlights on Wednesday night, as mentioned in my earlier post. However, nothing stood out quite like a seemingly minor tackle by Gleison Bremer on Lois Openda just four minutes into the match.
Replays revealed that the Brazilian player had injured both his ankle and knee during the play, leading to his immediate substitution. Nico Gonzalez also had to leave the match early due to an injury in the first half. Coach Thiago Motta spoke to Sky Italia, stating that both players would require medical evaluations and expressing hope that their injuries wouldn't be too severe, although he acknowledged it was too soon to determine their condition.
Juventus Confirms Gleison Bremer's ACL Tear
When Bremer showed up at Juventus' medical center using crutches on Wednesday morning, fans became anxious, and their worries were confirmed shortly after with an announcement from the club.
"This morning, Gleison Bremer and Nico Gonzalez had medical examinations at J|Medical. The tests showed that Bremer has a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee, while Gonzalez has a mild injury to the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh."
"Bremer is scheduled to have an operation in the next few days."
The 27-year-old has participated in every single minute of Juventus's eight matches this season. Unfortunately, he's expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season as he heals from his injury. This absence will be a significant setback for Motta and his team.
"It’s tough to express my feelings during such a challenging time, but sadly, the results of the medical tests were not good," Bremer shared in a later social media update. "I see this as an opportunity to confront the challenge with my usual determination, to grow, to improve, and to return even stronger than I was."
"I have a lengthy recovery ahead of me, but I'll continue to stand by my team and fellow players."
Juventus: Options After Bremer's Injury
Given that multiple sources, including La Gazzetta dello Sport, suggest the player may be sidelined for at least six months, what options do Motta and Juventus have?
Federico Gatti, an Italian national team player, stepped in for Bremer in the match against Leipzig, partnering with summer recruit Pierre Kalulu in Juventus's defense, which consists of four players. Danilo has also taken on that position, and former Hellas Verona defender Juan Cabal, primarily a left-back, has experience playing there as well.
These choices will need to suffice for Motta until the January transfer window. At that point, the club is likely to explore the market for potential additions to strengthen the team.
The only other option would be to bring in a free agent, as Juventus has the opportunity to sign players like Sergio Ramos and Joel Matip, who are currently without a team.
Bremer has been leading the team in recent matches and has been a key part of a defense that has given up only three goals in the last eight games. Losing such a crucial and dependable player is always a setback, and it will be interesting to see if Juventus can keep their strong defensive performance without their standout defender.
