Senegal midfielder Pape Matar Sarr may have to wait for Juventus debut

Pape Matar Sarr could be forced to wait for his Juventus debut after arriving at the club with a muscle injury that has limited his training in recent weeks.

The Senegal midfielder joined Juventus from Tottenham in the final hours of the transfer window, with the Italian club hoping he could provide an immediate option in midfield because of several absences in the area.

However, Sarr’s physical condition means he may not be ready to feature when Juventus face AC Milan on Sunday.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sarr recently suffered a muscle problem while in London and was unable to take part regularly in Tottenham’s training sessions before completing his move to Turin.

His fitness will now be assessed by Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti before the meeting with Milan.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Sarr’s availability for Sunday’s match remains uncertain, leaving the midfielder facing a possible wait before he can make his first appearance in the famous black and white shirt.

The 23-year-old was expected to strengthen Juventus’ midfield options following his arrival, particularly with the club dealing with a number of absences in the position.

But rather than being introduced immediately, Sarr is likely to require a gradual return to full fitness after his limited involvement in team training.

The situation is not expected to result in a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with the immediate priority being to help the Senegal international rebuild his physical condition.

Sarr completed his move to Juventus on 1 September after the Italian side agreed a €2.5 million loan deal with an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met.

His arrival ended his spell with Tottenham and gave Juventus another midfield option, although his first appearance for the club could now depend on how quickly he returns to an adequate level of fitness.

For now, Juventus will continue to monitor his condition ahead of Sunday’s match against AC Milan, with a decision on whether he can be involved still to be made.