AC Milan defender Matteo Gabbia faces an extended absence after medical examinations confirmed a severe left thigh muscle injury involving the tendon, with reports indicating he will not return to action until 2027.
The Injury at the Mapei Stadium
The defensive crisis unfolded during Milan’s 1–1 Serie A draw against Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium. Gabbia pulled up midway through the first half, leaving the pitch on a stretcher after just 19 minutes in visible distress. Initial concerns from the technical staff were confirmed the following day by instrumental tests at the club’s facilities. According to DAZN, the examinations revealed a lesion in the flexor muscle of the left thigh accompanied by a partial tendon involvement. The club subsequently announced that the player would undergo a specialized specialist consultation to determine the definitive therapeutic path, though initial prognoses from La Gazzetta dello Sport suggest a minimum three-month recovery for conservative therapy, stretching closer to four months if surgical intervention is chosen.
Defensive Options under Rúben Amorim
With Gabbia sidelined well into the 2026–27 campaign, manager Rúben Amorim must navigate a congested fixture list with a depleted central defensive unit. Sportmediaset reported that the club is evaluating potential reinforcements from the free-agent market to address the immediate emergency. Domestically, the central defensive pool consists of Mario Gila, Koni De Winter, and Strahinja Pavlovic, alongside summer signing Noah Jaouad Diawara, who has yet to feature in a competitive fixture. The rotation also includes versatile wide players Filippo Terracciano and Davide Bartesaghi, as well as 18-year-old youth product Vladimirov, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Free-Agent Market and January Targets
As the club weighs whether to dip into the market for unattached players, external media reports have linked several experienced free agents to the Rossoneri. Virgilio Sport noted that former Inter defender Francesco Acerbi has emerged as a potential short-term candidate given his Serie A experience, alongside other high-profile names such as David Alaba, John Stones, and Samuel Gigot. Meanwhile, planning for the winter transfer window remains active. La Gazzetta dello Sport indicated that Sporting CP central defender Gonçalo Inácio remains the primary long-term target for management, though extracting a key starter in January would likely require a significant financial commitment in the region of 40 million euros.
Reintegration of Fikayo Tomori
The defensive emergency has also altered the status of Fikayo Tomori within the squad. Having spent the initial weeks of the season entirely out of the tactical plans and registering zero minutes of playing time, the English defender has been fully reintegrated into the first-team fold. La Gazzetta dello Sport detailed that failed efforts to secure a permanent transfer during the summer window, combined with the mounting injuries, propelled Tomori back into contention for selection ahead of Milan’s upcoming fixtures.
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