AC Milan midfielder Alexis Saelemaekers is scheduled to undergo right ankle surgery next week after specialized medical evaluations revealed that his joint has lost stability following a recent training ground trauma, according to reports. The Belgian international, who sustained the injury during the international break, faces a recovery timeline estimated at approximately four months.
Medical Assessments Reveal Structural Instability
Club medical staff confirmed that the recurring issue affects the exact same right ankle that Saelemaekers had treated surgically in 2024 for a medial malleolus fracture. Recent specialized examinations demonstrated that the joint suffered a loss of stability at the site of the previous operation during training. Specialists are currently finalizing the definitive therapeutic protocol before the midfielder undergoes the scheduled procedure.
Timeline Extends Into February 2027
The upcoming surgery significantly prolongs the player’s absence from the pitch. Initial medical projections indicate that Saelemaekers will remain sidelined until deep into 2027, with a potential return projected around mid-February. The prolonged layoff removes a key tactical option from the squad’s attacking midfield rotation just as the player was returning to consistent form.
Squad Adjustments for Upcoming Fixtures
The long-term absence increases tactical responsibilities for Christian Pulisic and Alphadjo Cisse within the starting eleven. Pulisic is expected to feature heavily in the upcoming Serie A fixture against Sassuolo at Reggio Emilia. Meanwhile, Cisse competes for remaining midfield minutes alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ardon Jashari, who could anchor the midfield alongside Luka Modrić while Adrien Rabiot pushes into a more advanced role. Technical staff continue evaluating squad rotation ahead of the upcoming UEFA Europa League fixture against Red Bull Salzburg.
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