Udinese’s season has reached one of those early moments when a coach must look beyond the starting XI and ask how much depth is really left. Idrissa Gueye’s injury, sustained far from Friuli in a friendly in Poland, has removed a forward who had begun to make a convincing case for himself. At the same time, Kosta Runjaic must also manage Nicolò Zaniolo’s latest setback, while the club prepares to introduce David Alaba as experience for a troubled defensive unit.
The coach and the club
Gueye, the 20-year-old Senegalese forward, has undergone ankle surgery at the San Rossore clinic in Pisa. The operation was performed by Professor Van Dijk’s Dutch medical team, and Udinese expect him to be unavailable for three months.
The injury came in the 27 September friendly against Pogon Szczecin in Poland. Gueye had scored Udinese’s equaliser before his afternoon turned into a serious problem. The occasion carried a personal connection for Runjaic, who coached Pogon between 2017 and 2022.
His absence is a substantial blow because Gueye had established himself as Keinan Davis’s principal alternative. His early work had included a goal against Inter at San Siro, while he was also prominent in the defeat to Cagliari, when goalkeeper Elia Caprile’s saves denied him a goal.
Runjaic’s attacking options had already been affected by Zaniolo’s injury while with the Italy squad at Coverciano. Zaniolo has suffered another physical problem and is set to miss at least the next three matches.
Sporting director Gianluca Nani has ruled out a further search for reinforcements, including players without clubs. “We will not go back into the market and we will not sign free agents,” was the club’s clear position.
That stance comes immediately after Udinese agreed terms with one notable unattached player. Alaba, the 34-year-old defender with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid on his record, has chosen the Udinese project and is due to be presented today. He has accepted a one-year contract and is expected to bring versatility and authority to a defensive department in difficulty.
Finding an attacking balance
Davis has recovered after being forced off against Cagliari, but the options behind him are limited. Vakoun Bayo is the only remaining specialist striker in reserve.
For the roles affected by Zaniolo’s absence, Runjaic can turn to Spain’s Unai Gomez, who remains ahead despite an uncertain start, as well as Georgian player Chakvetadze. Young Serbian Jovanovic also made a positive impression after entering the friendly in Poland.
The coming weeks will therefore test Udinese’s ability to absorb two absences in the same area of the pitch. Gueye had begun to offer goals, energy and a credible alternative to Davis; now Runjaic must rebuild his attacking choices while Alaba arrives to steady another part of the side.
