Naples: Marianucci suffers a high-grade collateral ligament injury to his knee.

Bad news for Napoli just days before the start of the new season. Luca Marianucci will be sidelined due to a left knee injury sustained during the friendly against Celta de Vigo.

The defender underwent medical tests at Pineta Grande Hospital. The tests, as announced by the Neapolitan club, revealed a high-grade tear to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

This is a problem that will require particular attention from Napoli's medical and physiotherapy staff, especially considering the stage of the season and the preparation work still underway.

What does “high-grade injury” mean?

The medial collateral ligament, located on the inside of the knee, has the task of ensuring the stability of the joint, especially by counteracting outward opening movements.

A lesion defined as high grade generally indicates significant damage to the ligament fibers, which can be classified clinically as a severe grade II or grade III lesion, depending on the extent of the damage.
The final outcome and recovery strategy will depend on the specialist assessment, the presence of any other associated injuries, and the stability of the knee.

Recovery times

Recovery times for medial collateral ligament injuries vary greatly. For a grade II injury, recovery can take approximately 4-8 weeks, while for a grade III injury, it can take approximately 8-12 weeks or even longer, especially for a professional athlete who needs to fully recover strength, stability, and the ability to perform soccer-specific movements.

In Marianucci's case, therefore, it would be premature to speak today about a precise date for his return to the field. The "high-grade" classification suggests a prolonged outage: assuming a conservative recovery without further complications, the expected duration could be several weeks to two to three months.
The actual timeframe will be determined based on the patient's clinical progress and subsequent checks. Before returning to play, the defender will need to regain full knee stability and gradually complete the athletic and technical work.

A significant absence for Napoli

The injury comes at a particularly delicate stage of preparation. Marianucci will now have to focus on his rehabilitation, while the coaching staff will evaluate their defensive options.
For Napoli, the goal will be to avoid any pressure on the recovery time: with a high-grade medial collateral ligament injury, a return to competitive activity must be subordinated to a complete recovery of joint stability and athletic condition.