Samuel Chukwueze has undergone surgery on a ruptured tendon in his left hip and AC Milan say the operation was a success.
The Nigeria winger went under the knife in London and has since returned to Italy to begin rehab. Even so, he won’t be back anytime soon. The Serie A club announced the news on Wednesday through its official website.
According to Milan, the damage was a ruptured tendon of the tensor fasciae latae muscle. Professor Ernest Schilders performed the operation, with Dr Stefano Mazzoni in attendance.
The club said the procedure “was successful.” From here, the focus shifts to rehabilitation in Italy.
The problem first showed up after Milan’s 3-2 Serie A win over Atalanta. Chukwueze felt pain in his left hip, and by midweek he was missing training ahead of the Europa League game against Bournemouth. Milan lost that tie without him.
Soon after, reports in Italy said he had seen a specialist and started a course of injections. At that stage, people were talking about a lengthy layoff, but nobody had mentioned an operation. Surgery, as it turns out, was where the medical staff ended up.
The setback is a blow for Ruben Amorim, who has used Chukwueze regularly this season.
He returned to the club after a loan spell at Fulham and started well, with two assists in eight appearances across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Milan are already short on that side of the pitch. Alexis Saelemaekers is out for at least five months after ankle surgery. As a result, Amorim has fewer wide options just as the fixtures start piling up.
Chukwueze’s rehab starts now, and Milan haven’t given an exact return date.
The expectation is that he will be out until the end of the year, so the medical staff will take it step by step. Nobody at the club will want to rush a hip injury that has already needed an operation.
