Arkadiusz Milik’s lost season

Image via Mikolaj Barbanell/Shutterstock

Thirteen months ago, I was sat in Stadion Narodowy in Warszawa enjoying a crisp pint of Tyskie and relishing the upcoming 90 minutes of Poland’s first pre-Euro 2024 friendly against Ukraine. 

Barely a minute in to the contest, and even from the fairly distant vantage point I had, it was clear to see that Arkadiusz Milik had done himself serious damage attempting to intercept a pass. 

It came therefore as no surprise to hear later in the evening that Milik would not be part of the squad for Euro 2024 and would require surgery on a knee issue yet again, the third such time he had required major surgery on a severe injury to his knees.

Little did we know at the time that this latest serious knee problem would see him miss the entirety of the 2024/25 season. First we heard, shortly after the operation, that it was likely Milik would return around October/November time. Then, a few weeks into the season it was reported by multiple sources in Italy that Juventus expected Milik to be fit again sometime around the Christmas or New Year period. Shortly before Christmas the same glut of reports announced Milik might be fit again in late January.

New Year came and went and it was now apparent in these reports that there were complications to Milik’s recovery that had not been taken into account previously, and the date for his recovery was now unspecified. The last real update came in March, when reports confirmed what had been pretty clear for a while: that Milik would not be taking to the pitch before the end of the season.

However, all was not lost. It was nice to see that despite an underwhelming and often tumultuous season for Juventus, fairly new manager Igor Tudor included Milik as part of the travelling squad for the expanded Club World Cup, and even named him as an unused substitute for their game against Manchester City.

I thought it was perhaps a bit trite to sum up Milik’s career to this point, but in preparation for this article I thought it best to take a whistle-stop tour through his playing days so far. From a blossoming young striker with Ajax and a defining (if extremely profligate) Euro 2016, to the dual ACL injuries following his big money move to Napoli before two strong following seasons, being bombed out by Aurelio De Laurentiis and an underrated and relatively prolific period in Marseille, to his time in Juventus where he proved himself a very good forward option, particularly that 2022/23 campaign.

Even the season prior to suffering this injury, Milik wasn’t a standout performer by any means but he was still the top scorer in the Coppa Italia and a champion in the same competition.

Again, writing this I was reticent to draw lazy comparisons with other players similar to Milik who have suffered serious knee injuries, but if would allow me just one, it would be the “original” Ronaldo. Obviously Milik is nowhere near the same calibre of player, but the injury record kind of tracks. A rising star striker, gets his big money move and suffers near back-to-back knee injuries. Comes back, plays well for a number of years despite other minor injury problems before suffering yet another serious knee problem. 

For Ronaldo that last knee rupture more-or-less signalled the end of his top-level career in Europe, and I think we’re all hoping that this won’t be the case for Milik. 

It’s a good omen that Tudor included Milik in the Club World Cup squad, and judging from that you would imagine the manager has plans to use him for the upcoming season should no more injury problems arise. You also have to bear in mind that Milik is still just 31 years of age, certainly not considered past your prime in Serie A, wont as that league is to indulging those of steadily advancing years. 

What this means for Poland is a slightly different matter. With a moratorium on whether Robert Lewandowski will return immediately or not given the recent fallout with ex-Selekcjoner Michał Probierz, strong form in more minor European leagues for Adam Buksa and Karol Świderski, not to mention Krzysztof Piątek coming off the back of an impressive goal return in 2024/25, Milik doesn’t have his place in the national team assured when he returns to the pitch for his club.

There are promising signs though if you’re Milik. Piątek has just moved to Qatar, which is not a league known for a high-level of quality, and it’s not like there are a series of younger strikers queueing up to take their elders’ spot for Poland right now. 

In my opinion, I think it is highly likely that whoever is confirmed as the next Selekcjoner (Cezary Kulesza has already publicly declared he has made his choice) will be looking to reintegrate Milik into the national frame some time following these remaining World Cup qualifers in the autumn, unless there is form and a return to the pitch for Juventus which simply could not be ignored.

In the meantime, Milik will be gearing up for a full pre-season with his club, something his injury robbed him of last year and something which will hopefully stand him in good stead for the coming years. I find it slightly unfortunate that in interviews Milik conducted in the last few seasons, he has often spoken of the fact that any injury problems he has suffered were thankfully unrelated to his previous knee issues.

You would imagine therefore that Milik will have the same mindset as he did when returning from these previous knee injuries, plus obviously a level of experience which whilst unfortunate will likely stand him in good stead for his return to the pitch following this last lost year.

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