Alessandro Buongiorno’s return to social media after two months away has underlined the length of the road still ahead for the Napoli defender. Images from his rehabilitation in Turin showed a leaner-looking player with untrimmed hair, prompting concern among supporters who are waiting for one of the central figures of Napoli’s defensive project to return.
A rehabilitation programme in Turin
Buongiorno has completed the first stage of his recovery at the Institute of Sports Medicine in Turin, following surgery to repair the root of his medial meniscus. He was pictured working in the gym in photographs shared by Dr Daniele Mozzone, who has overseen his post-operation treatment.
The medical team offered a message of encouragement as the defender left the programme, expressing the hope of seeing him back in Serie A, the Champions League and with Italy. Buongiorno’s own objective is equally clear: to regain the level that made him a cornerstone of Napoli’s title-winning side.
- The operation came shortly after the arrival of Napoli’s new coach, Massimiliano Allegri.
- Initial expectations suggested an absence of between two and three months.
- The recovery has taken longer than first projected, with his return to the pitch now expected at the beginning of 2027.
- Napoli invested €35 million plus bonuses in the former Torino captain.
For Napoli, the prolonged absence matters beyond one selection problem. Buongiorno was signed as the present and future of the back line, while also remaining an important player in Italy’s defensive plans.
From Torino recruit to Scudetto contributor
Buongiorno’s move to Naples followed a dinner meeting with Antonio Conte in Turin. Conte, then preparing to take charge of Napoli, had made the defender’s arrival a condition of his own acceptance of the role. Buongiorno soon left Torino, where he had been captain, for the blue shirt.
His first season beneath Vesuvius brought a Scudetto, even if it was repeatedly interrupted by fitness problems. A sprain on the opening day was followed by a lumbar vertebra fracture that kept him out for six matches, while an adductor muscle issue ruled him out for the final part of the campaign.
- Buongiorno missed 12 Serie A fixtures through injury in his first Napoli season.
- Despite those interruptions, his contribution was significant in the run to the league title.
- His second campaign brought fewer physical issues, but a more difficult period in terms of performance.
A difficult second season
The defender’s recent decline has been unexpected for a player previously regarded as one of Napoli’s most dependable performers. There were technical mistakes in a difficult Champions League night against Benfica, while errors against Genoa also led to goals conceded and ended with Buongiorno leaving the field in tears.
He also conceded penalties against Inter, Verona and Copenhagen, an unwelcome personal record during a period in which his usual authority appeared to fade. The meniscus injury and operation at the start of the season extended that difficult sequence.
Before beginning his latest spell out, Buongiorno addressed supporters with a promise that the hard period would pass. He said he would return stronger and more determined to give everything for Napoli’s shirt.
Time, patience and a place to reclaim
The reaction to his latest images reflects Buongiorno’s standing in Naples. Supporters have noticed his reduced physique during recovery, but the defender’s rehabilitation work is now aimed at restoring the strength and sharpness required at the highest level.
At his age, with the physical base that made him such a prominent defender and with strong motivation after a frustrating spell, Buongiorno has time to rebuild. Napoli will need patience, but the club will also be waiting for a player whose return could shape the next phase of their season.
