Gabbia successfully operated in London: recovery timeline
Bad news for AC Milan: Matteo Gabbia will be sidelined for at least one month. The Italian defender underwent surgery yesterday in London to resolve an inguinal hernia that had been bothering him for some time. The procedure, attended by Dr. Mazzoni along with other specialists, was a complete success. The centre-back, born in 1999, returned to Italy today, March 4th, and will immediately begin his recovery programme.
Matches the Italian defender will miss
Gabbia’s absence will weigh heavily on the Rossoneri backline, especially given the demanding schedule awaiting Milan over the coming weeks. The games the Italian centre-back will certainly miss are at least three:
- Derby against Inter – scheduled for this coming Sunday at San Siro, a crucial appointment in the title race.
- Lazio vs Milan – a tricky away fixture at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, a match that will demand defensive solidity.
- Milan vs Torino – a home clash at San Siro that the Rossoneri will have to face without one of their defensive pillars.
The international break provides a useful recovery window, but it remains to be seen whether Gabbia can return in time for Napoli vs Milan, the first match after the international pause, scheduled around April 4th. Should the timeline prove insufficient, the total matches missed could rise to four.
Defensive options for Milan
The squad depth at centre-back thins out. The starters remain Fikayo Tomori, Koni De Winter, and Strahinja Pavlović, with hopes they can maintain consistent and high-level performances through the congested fixture list. The direct alternative in that role is Odogu, who arrived on the final day of the summer transfer window and has seen very limited playing time so far. Another option could involve deploying Davide Bartesaghi in a central role, though that would take the young full-back out of his natural position.
In recent months, Gabbia had shown remarkable reliability and consistency, earning the full trust of the coaching staff. His absence will force Milan to manage their defensive resources carefully during a pivotal stretch of the season, but the squad possesses the quality to step up even without their number twenty-two.
