Juventus have left Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik out of their squad for the upcoming UEFA Europa League campaign following recent injury struggles.
The Italian club published their registered roster for the European competition on Wednesday evening. Milik was one of five first-team players omitted from the squad list submitted to UEFA for the league phase of the tournament.
The forward has dealt with persistent health issues in recent months. Four other senior squad members were also left off the submission: Kosovo winger Edon Zhegrova, French midfielder Khephren Thuram, Italian defender Daniele Rugani and young forward Jeff Ekhator.
New arrivals and roster changes
Juventus included two newly acquired forwards in their European selection. German striker Nick Woltemade joined the Turin side on loan from English Premier League club Newcastle United without a buyout option. French international Randal Kolo Muani was also registered after completing a 41.2 million euro transfer to the Serie A club.
Polish goalkeeper Kamil Grabara was also named in the squad for the continental competition. Grabara has yet to make his official debut for Juventus since arriving at the club.
Specific circumstances determined the other omissions from the European roster. Zhegrova was left out due to a potential departure from the club, with the winger no longer being part of the project in Turin. Thuram was excluded because of an injury that is expected to keep the midfielder out of action for approximately four months. Rugani and Ekhator were omitted as neither currently serves as a central figure in the squad plans.
Fixtures schedule and management trust
Juventus will begin their Europa League main phase campaign on September 17 against Dutch club NEC Nijmegen. Their schedule continues with matches against Spanish side Celta Vigo on October 15, French outfit Stade Rennais on October 22, and Dutch side AZ Alkmaar on November 5.
The Italian side will then face Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia on November 26, Israeli team Hapoel Beer Sheva on December 10, Hungarian champions Ferencvaros on January 21, and Spanish club Real Sociedad on January 28.
Despite his omission from European competition, Milik retains the support of Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti. The Polish striker scored in a recent 2-0 friendly win over Sicilian side Palermo after returning to action.
Following that match, Spalletti said Milik had found the net again and demonstrated that his performance improves with more playing time. The coach added that the forward remains a player who can be very important for the squad.
Contract status and transfer speculation
Milik has been named on the bench for Serie A fixtures against Frosinone Calcio, where Juventus won 1-0, and Parma, which ended in a 2-0 victory. However, he has yet to establish himself in competitive line-ups this season.
Former Juventus striker Nicola Amoruso discussed Milik's physical condition in an interview with Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. Amoruso said Milik did not guarantee adequate physical strength, though he noted that the Pole would be an ideal central striker if he maintained full fitness.
Milik's contract with Juventus runs until the end of June next year. As his agreement enters its final months, the forward is expected to leave the club on a free transfer without a release fee upon expiration.
Media reports in recent months have linked Milik with a potential return to Polish Ekstraklasa club Gornik Zabrze. In an interview with digital channel Kanal Sportowy, Milik acknowledged that he held Gornik Zabrze in a warm part of his heart. He clarified that while he maintained regular family contact with his brother, those discussions were personal rather than professional. He added that while various topics were discussed, it was too early for a transfer and he was not currently considering a move.
