Argentine star undergoes arthroscopic operation and is expected to miss around six weeks
Paulo Dybala will be sidelined for several weeks after undergoing knee surgery, dealing a significant blow to AS Roma at a crucial stage of the season.
The Argentine forward had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee at Villa Stuart clinic in Rome, where doctors removed part of the damaged external meniscus.
Roma expect Dybala to be out for roughly 45 days, meaning a potential return toward the end of April.
Injury Dating Back Weeks
The problem did not appear suddenly. Dybala had been struggling with recurring pain since late January, when he first felt discomfort during a match against AC Milan.
During a recent training session the pain resurfaced just ten minutes after practice began, forcing the forward to stop immediately. Medical staff initially attempted conservative treatment — including acupuncture and specialized therapy — in hopes of avoiding surgery.
Those efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.
After further evaluation, Roma’s medical team opted for exploratory arthroscopic surgery, which confirmed a partial tear of the external meniscus.
Operation at Villa Stuart
The procedure was carried out by renowned orthopedic surgeon Pier Paolo Mariani.
According to Mariani, imaging scans revealed a small tear in the outer meniscus that required partial removal.
“He had recurring discomfort,” the doctor explained. “Advanced imaging showed a minimal tear in the external meniscus, which we partially removed during the operation.”
The surgery went smoothly and successfully resolved the issue that had been troubling the Argentine star for weeks.
Dybala with prof. Mariani
Recovery Timeline
Dybala’s rehabilitation is expected to last around five weeks before he exits the medical phase of recovery. After that, he will need additional time to rebuild match fitness before returning to competition.
“After about 45 days he should be out of the medical area,” Mariani said. “Then the fitness staff, the doctors, and finally the coach will decide when he can return to play.”
That timeline suggests Dybala could be available for the final stretch of the Serie A season.
A Bittersweet Week for La Joya
The injury comes during a deeply emotional week in the striker’s personal life, as Dybala recently celebrated the birth of his first child.
On the professional side, however, the timing is far from ideal. Roma will now have to navigate the coming weeks without one of their most creative and decisive players.
With Dybala’s contract set to expire at the end of the season — and speculation linking him to a possible move to Boca Juniors — the coming months could prove pivotal for both the player and the club.
For now, though, the focus is simply on recovery.
