Sassuolo’s season has lost one of its increasingly trusted defensive pillars after Fedde Leysen was diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee.
The Belgian centre-back was forced off in the 26th minute of Sassuolo’s match against Milan on Sunday 11 October. Subsequent medical examinations confirmed the seriousness of the problem.
Quick facts
- Fedde Leysen has suffered an ACL injury to his left knee.
- The injury occurred during Sassuolo’s home fixture against Milan on 11 October.
- He left the pitch after 26 minutes of the first half.
- Sassuolo will assess him again before setting out surgery and rehabilitation plans.
- The club has not announced a projected return date.
Sassuolo said the defender’s condition will be reviewed again in the coming days, when the club will determine the procedure for an operation and the next stages of his recovery. Given the nature of the injury, Leysen is expected to face an extended absence.
The setback is a significant one for Alberto Aquilani. Leysen, on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise, had steadily grown into a central figure in the Neroverdi back line.
He made his league debut from the bench against Atalanta, then started each of Sassuolo’s following five matches. His injury now leaves Aquilani to reshuffle a defence that had begun to give the Belgian a regular place.
