Juventus submitted its squad for the Europa League stage to UEFA on Wednesday evening, with the midfielder Kefren Thuram and wingers Eden Jeglova is one of the notable absences. Daniele Rugani, Arek Milik and Jeff Ekhator are reportedly among five players who are not listed. Yahoo Sports.
The circumstances behind the two title omissions are very different. Thuram is out with a knee problem that has troubled him since the spring and it is reported that he will undergo surgery in the coming days, although this has not been officially confirmed by the club.
Zeglova’s future is uncertain
Zeglova’s situation is even more confusing. He has been dealing with fitness issues during his time in Turin and his exclusion from the squad comes as some smaller leagues still keep their transfer windows open, raising the possibility that he could still leave Continassa before those markets close. Ecatto’s absence is more immediate, with the striker facing a lengthy injury layoff expected to last for the next few months.
Elsewhere on the list, Juan Cabal was drafted, and although he reportedly sanctioned a move to Atalanta on deadline day, it ultimately never materialized. Kenan Yildiz appears on the B list rather than the A list, which is reserved for homegrown players born after 2005, freeing up a spot elsewhere – although he won’t be available until November after surgery on a broken left foot.
What this means for Spalletti’s choice
Apart from the injured Hector, the players arriving every summer have already been registered, leaving Luciano Spalletti with a squad built almost entirely on the business side of this transfer window for the start of the league phase against NEC Nijmegen on Thursday, September 17. Thuram, Reglova, Rugani, Milik and Hector simply cannot be called upon at this stage, no matter how their personal situations are resolved.
Finishing high enough to avoid the play-offs and the two extra games that come with them remains the priority and Juventus will need the options at their disposal, including Cabal’s role, to achieve that in that regard. Zheglova’s role in this picture, and the wider club, is far from certain.
