Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri will not be in the dugout to oversee affairs for the Bianconeri in Saturday's encounter with Napoli, reports have confirmed. The Italian manager's reunion with his former side will have to wait as he is still recovering from an illness.
Despite supervising the Old Ladies throughout their pre-season tour, Sarri is yet to make his official managerial bow in the Serie A with the defending champions. Last week, the former Chelsea manager was sidelined in his side's victory over Parma after a medical report revealed that he had contracted pneumonia.
On Friday, his deputy Giovanni Martusciello stated that the ex-boss of the Partenopei could be in the dugout for the reunion with his former side with his recovery seemingly going well. However, Sky Sports have indicated that the Juventus head coach has decided against showing up for the encounter upon consultation with the club's medical staff.
Meanwhile, skipper of the Bianconeri Giorgio Chiellini has also been ruled out of action in the first home fixture in the Serie A this season. A statement released by his club revealed that the 35-year-old center-back picked up a knee injury in training on Friday.
"During today's training, Giorgio Chiellini sustained a sprain of his right knee," the statement reads.
"The diagnostic tests performed at JMedical showed a lesion of the anterior cruciate ligament.
"It will be necessary to have surgery in the coming days."
