Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has been sidelined from Saturday’s Champions League final against Barcelona with a torn a calf muscle.
The Italy international suffered “a grade one tear of the soleus muscle in his left leg” in training on Wednesday and will not feature at the Olympiastadion.
A statement from the Turin club reads: “As the clock ticks down to Saturday’s showpiece event at the Olympiastadion, Massimiliano Allegri’s men focused on tactics at the Juventus Centre. Missing out was Giorgio Chiellini, who underwent tests after reporting discomfort in his calf on Wednesday. The scan revealed a grade one tear of the soleus muscle in his left leg, meaning the defender will miss Saturday’s final with Barcelona.”
With two days left to the showdown in Berlin, manager Massimiliano Allegri will have to search for a replacement for the Italy international, who has made 12 appearances for Juve in Europe this term.
Andrea Barzagli has been touted to stand in for Chiellini but questions have been raised concerning his fitness having just returned to regular training on Wednesday. The 34-year-old has not played since suffering a thigh strain against Napoli on 23 May.
Nigerian born Azzuri Angelo Ogbonna could however be handed a rare start if Barzagli fail to rise up to the task.
It also means there will be no Chiellini- Luis Suarez reunion after the latter’s bitting incident during a 2014 Fifa World Cup.
