Sports

Napoli confirm Neres and Milinkovic-Savic injury status after surgery decisions

Published

2 hours ago

27 January 2026

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 22: David Neres of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Supercoppa Italiana Final between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC 1909 at King Saud University Stadium on December 22, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Napoli have confirmed that two key first-team players are set for spells on the sidelines after David Neres’s decision to have surgery in London, and a new muscular issue for goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

Napoli release statement after Neres surgery and Milinkovic-Savic blow

Injury issues have been a constant problem for Antonio Conte and his squad in 2025-26. Romelu Lukaku has only just returned from an injury he sustained the week before the Serie A season kicked off, Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out of the last 21 matches across all competitions, Billy Gilmour for the last 19 and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa for the last 17.

That is without forgetting the various knocks to the likes of Stanislav Lobotka, Matteo Politano, Amir Rrahmani, Sam Beukema and Alessandro Buongiorno at various stages of this campaign.

MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 11: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) — MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Neres has also been struggling with an ankle injury over the last few weeks, and recently took the decision to undergo surgery to amend the issue. That operation took place in London on Monday.

The club have since confirmed in a statement that: “On Monday, David Neres underwent surgery on his left ankle in London. The operation was a complete success. The Napoli player will rest for a few days and will then begin his rehabilitation programme.”

As for Milinkovic-Savic, who was ruled out of Sunday’s 3-0 defeat against Juventus, the club have confirmed that he “underwent medical exams at Pineta Grande hospital, which revealed a strain of the biceps femoris in his left thigh. The keeper has already started his rehabilitation programme.”