Napoli Offers Details About Alessandro Buongiorno’s Injury
Alessandro Buongiorno has been an integral part of Napoli’s title-chasing campaign. But a recent injury means Antonio Conte must move fast to find a Plan B. Today, the club issued a statement and provided more information about the defender’s injury status.
Napoli Faces Defensive Crisis as Alessandro Buongiorno Suffers Serious Injury
Napoli’s defensive plans have been dealt a major blow after Alessandro Buongiorno sustained a significant back injury during training. The club confirmed that the 25-year-old centre-back will miss the remainder of 2024, following medical assessments that revealed a fracture in the vertebrae.
Buongiorno, a key figure in Napoli’s backline this season, had been a near-constant presence for Antonio Conte’s side. After missing the opening match against Verona—a 3-0 defeat—he featured for the full 90 minutes in the following 15 consecutive games. His consistency and commanding defensive performances had made him indispensable for both Napoli and the Italian national team.
Club Statement and Injury Details
In an official statement released on Monday, Napoli addressed the severity of the injury:
“Alessandro Buongiorno was injured during today’s training session. Following medical tests conducted at the Pineta Grande Hospital, it was confirmed that the player has suffered fractures to the transverse processes of two lumbar vertebrae. Buongiorno will begin his rehabilitation tomorrow.”
Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport suggest that the injury will keep Buongiorno sidelined for a minimum of three weeks, although a longer absence remains a possibility depending on his recovery progress.
Buongiorno’s Stats
Alessandro Buongiorno has had a great season for Napoli. It more than justified the club’s willingness to pay €35 million plus €5 million in add-ons for this Summer transfer.
The stats tell the story. Buongiorno registers 1.7 tackles per game, makes 1.6 interceptions and 2.9 clearances. Furthermore, he does his work cleanly, only averaging 0.5 fouls per game.
Buongiorno also helps with the team’s build-up. The ball-playing defender makes 61.3 passes per game and has a completion rate of 91.3%.
Furthermore, the defender uses his physicality efficiently. Buongiorno wins 1.9 aerial duels per game.
His rapid rise to prominence also caught the attention of Italy coach Luciano Spalletti, who recently entrusted him with a starting role in the Azzurri’s backline.
Putting all of these elements together, it becomes clear that De Laurentiis will have a difficult task in finding a fit replacement on such short notice.
