Juventus began the Serie A season with three points, but the victory may have come at a considerable cost.
Yıldız was substituted during Sunday’s 1-0 win away to Frosinone. The Turkish international subsequently underwent examinations at the club’s J|Medical facility.
Initial reports in Italy raised fears that Luciano Spalletti could lose his number ten for the opening months of the campaign.
The decisive detail remains unconfirmed
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported a suspected problem involving the fifth metatarsal in Yıldız’s left foot.
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The newspaper said the early tests had not ruled out a fracture. An operation was consequently being considered, with an absence of more than two months presented as the most serious scenario.
SportMediaset described the injury as an incomplete fracture and suggested a recovery period of eight to ten weeks if surgery became necessary.
Those details originated from media reports rather than a formal Juventus medical bulletin. When this article was prepared, the club had not confirmed either the precise diagnosis or a recovery timetable.
The distinction is important. Metatarsal injuries can require very different treatment depending on the location, stability and severity of the fracture.
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Victory came with a hidden cost
Yıldız started Juventus’ season opener against Frosinone but left the pitch in the 69th minute. Bremer’s header eventually secured a narrow 1-0 victory.
The injury was not initially presented as a major concern during the match. The problem became clearer after the team returned from the away fixture and Yıldız reported discomfort.
This is also understood to be unrelated to the left-knee tendinopathy that troubled him during the closing months of last season.
That earlier problem restricted his condition before the World Cup and followed him into the summer. Juventus believed the issue had been resolved after rest and a controlled pre-season programme.
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Spalletti had built around his number ten
Losing Yıldız would be especially damaging because Spalletti regards him as the centre of Juventus’ attacking project.
The 21-year-old recorded ten goals and six assists across 36 Serie A appearances last season, figures listed on his official Juventus profile.
Yıldız can operate from the left, behind a striker or between midfield and attack. His ability to carry the ball and create chances gives Juventus a quality that is difficult to replace directly.
Only days before the injury, Spalletti was asked about a hypothetical €100 million offer for the Turkish star. His answer, quoted by Sky Italia, was unambiguous: “His future is here.”
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That statement demonstrated his importance at a club still attempting to reshape its attack during the final days of the transfer window.
A difficult autumn could await
If the longest recovery estimate proves accurate, Yıldız could miss important Serie A matches against Milan, Atalanta, Lazio and Napoli.
He would also be unavailable for the opening phase of Juventus’ Europa League campaign and could miss Turkey’s Nations League fixtures.
Spalletti has alternatives. Jérémie Boga and 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegović can play from the left, while other attackers could absorb parts of Yıldız’s creative responsibility.
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The injury may also influence Juventus’ transfer decisions. Italian reports have linked the club with Joshua Zirkzee, while the potential departure of Nico González could be reconsidered.
For now, the two-month figure should not be treated as a confirmed sentence. The final medical decision will determine whether Juventus have suffered a temporary scare or the first major crisis of their season.
