Bologna’s planning for the coming weeks has been unsettined by an alarming evening with Sweden. Emil Holm went down during the second half of the match against Romania, and the first reports reaching Casteldebole quickly raised the prospect of a long absence on the right side.
The coach and the club
Holm stopped shortly after the restart, falling in obvious pain while holding the back of his thigh. He was taken off on a stretcher, with an issue to the hamstring the initial concern. Further medical examinations will establish the full extent of the damage, but Bologna are preparing for the possibility that their right-back could be unavailable for at least two months.
- Holm suffered the injury in Sweden’s game against Romania.
- Sweden’s federation decided to release him so that rehabilitation can begin alongside Bologna.
- The defender is expected back in Bologna the following day for assessment and treatment.
Sweden indicated that the player would return to his club in order to begin recovery in coordination with Bologna. The Rossoblù, however, will not judge the timetable only on the scan results. Holm’s recent record includes several muscular setbacks, a factor that is likely to encourage caution over any projected return date.
The problem also reaches into Raffaele Palladino’s squad management. Lorenzo De Silvestri has been used as a substitute in the back three, and asking him to cover the entire right flank regularly would place considerable physical and tactical demands on him. Nadir Zortea is the natural alternative, although Bologna may feel one specialist is insufficient; he also still has defensive aspects to develop.
A free-agent market under consideration
That is why Bologna’s directors have begun considering players without a club. The exercise is not simply about replacing Holm’s minutes, but about retaining an option on the right if the Swedish international’s lay-off proves substantial.
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Pol Lirola, 29, is available after leaving Verona. A natural right-back with Serie A experience, he appears one of the closest fits for the role Bologna need to cover.
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Matteo Darmian, 36, brings extensive Italian top-flight experience after his Inter spell, as well as 46 appearances for Italy.
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Mattia De Sciglio, 33, offers flexibility across the defensive unit.
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Krépin Diatta, 27, is free following the end of his time at Monaco and would provide a more attacking profile.
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Mitchel Bakker has recovered from the cruciate ligament injury he sustained in 2025. Though left-footed, he has the adaptability to operate on the right as a wing-back.
For every available candidate, match fitness would be a central question. A player arriving outside the regular transfer window would need time to rebuild condition before becoming a reliable answer to a demanding Serie A schedule.
The distant possibility
Dani Carvajal is also on the market after the conclusion of his long Real Madrid career. The 34-year-old is an enticing name, but Bologna would regard a deal as exceptionally difficult. His age and, above all, the financial terms likely to be required make the Spanish international a far less realistic option than the other profiles being assessed.
For now, the decisive news will come from Holm’s examinations. Bologna’s next move in the free-agent market depends on whether an international-break injury becomes a temporary inconvenience or a defining absence in their season.
