Former Juventus player Marco Tardelli believes that Locatelli's absence will create major problems for the Bianconeri.

Tardelli, a midfielder who won the 1982 World Cup with the Italian national team, said: "Even without the captain, solutions must be found. McKennie can be relied upon. As for that Brazilian player? There are so many things about Juventus lately that I don't understand..."

Juventus's midfield is currently plagued by injuries, with Locatelli and Khephren Thuram set to be absent until at least the end of 2026. Tardelli said: "This is certainly a heavy blow for the club, especially with Yıldız's absence at the same time."

When asked how to overcome the injuries, Tardelli said: "You have to accept it: either the squad is deep enough to find a suitable replacement, or you accept the reality of bad luck and move on."

Regarding the void left by Locatelli, Tardelli said: "The captain can be replaced; the armband moving from one arm to another is fine. The problem is that Locatelli is an important player, and he must be replaced by another important player who has Locatelli's personality. Of course, that's not easy, but someone like that must be found. A squad like Juventus should have someone like that."

Tardelli believes that Locatelli and Thuram are likely to be key players for Juventus, and now their injuries force the team to reconsider its midfield configuration. He said: "This is a major problem, very major. Juventus could go to the transfer market to search for free agents, because now they can only recruit players without contracts. In short, they must find a player who can replace both of them with good quality, or even high quality. It's not easy, but football sometimes brings surprises."

When discussing ideal replacements, Tardelli first mentioned McKennie: "He has proven over the years that he can play in many positions at Juventus and is very reliable. Then there's Koopmeiners: so far, he hasn't met everyone's expectations, but recently he's shown improvement, and I really like him."

Regarding not mentioning Douglas Luiz, Tardelli answered: "Well, because there are so many things about Juventus lately that I don't understand... too many..."

When asked how Spalletti will get through this difficult period, Tardelli said: "I think he will push the dressing room like he did in the past. Spalletti is a very special coach, and I think he's exceptional. But he also needs to be understood, because if you're willing to follow him, you can achieve many things, though that's not guaranteed. Of course, the transfer market isn't helping him."

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