Nico Gonzalez’s tenure at Juventus has been marred by injury concerns, making him one of the disappointments of the season so far. The Argentine winger, who arrived from Fiorentina for a substantial fee of 33 million euros plus bonuses, was expected to bring quality and versatility to Thiago Motta’s attack. However, these hopes have been largely unfulfilled due to persistent physical problems.
Calciomercato detail how since joining Juventus, Gonzalez has only managed to feature in six matches, accumulating a mere 307 minutes of play. During this limited time, he has scored once in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven and provided one assist. His absence has been doubly impactful, as it has left a void in his natural position on either flank in Motta’s 4-2-3-1 formation and deprived the team of a potential alternative to the overworked Dusan Vlahovic in the central attacking role.
Motta has attempted to find temporary solutions, experimenting with players like Weah, Mbangula, and Yildiz, but none have provided the impact that a fit Gonzalez could offer. The player’s latest absence from the Turin derby was primarily precautionary, aimed at avoiding any risk of relapse before the international break.
There is optimism that Gonzalez could return for Juventus’ match against Milan on November 23, following the international break. This would be a welcome boost for Motta and the team, who have missed his presence in eight matches so far this season.
Gonzalez’s injury history since arriving in Italy is concerning. While at Fiorentina, he missed several matches due to various injuries, including a significant portion of the 2022-23 season and the entire 2022 World Cup due to a biceps femoris injury. His final season at Fiorentina saw him miss eight matches due to injury, a pattern that has unfortunately continued at Juventus.
