Naples: When Will Lobotka Return? Test Results Following His Injury

Bad news for Napoli and Massimiliano Allegri. Stanislav Lobotka has suffered two injuries to his left ankle, which he injured during the match against Monza that the Azzurri won 4-1. The Slovak midfielder was forced to leave the field on a stretcher just 17 minutes into the game following a collision with Mangas, immediately raising fears of a prolonged absence.

Medical tests conducted Thursday morning confirmed the presence of two injuries. In an official statement, Napoli reported a tibiofibular syndesmotic injury—without instability—associated with a low-grade injury to the anterior talofibular ligament of the left ankle. Lobotka has already begun his rehabilitation, but the club has not yet indicated a return date. Initial estimates suggest he will be sidelined for about a month and a half, with the exact timeline to be determined based on the progress of his recovery.

The midfielder will therefore miss several matches in both the league and the Champions League, starting with Sunday night’s match against Juventus, and will also be forced to sit out the games against Porto and Lazio before the international break. With an estimated recovery time of about a month and a half, the former Celta Vigo player’s absence is set to continue into the coming weeks.

His absence poses a problem for Allegri, who loses a key player in ball control and playmaking. Among the alternatives is Billy Gilmour, who came on for Lobotka against Monza and is capable of playing in front of the defense. Another option is to move Kevin De Bruyne back, entrusting him with greater responsibility in the build-up phase. The coach’s upcoming decisions will clarify how Napoli will try to compensate for the absence of its playmaker.