Torino's Zakaria Aboukhlal undergoes knee surgery, prognosis pending
Torino winger Zakaria Aboukhlal has undergone surgery on his right knee, the Serie A club confirmed on Monday. The Moroccan international travelled to Amsterdam for an arthroscopic procedure to assess and address the consequences of a traumatic contusive event, performed by Dr. Bas Pijnenburg with Torino's medical staff in attendance. The club stated that Aboukhlal has already begun his rehabilitation, with a full prognosis to be determined in the coming weeks based on his clinical evolution.
The 24-year-old joined Torino from Toulouse last summer but has endured a stop-start debut season in Italy. He has made 15 league appearances this campaign, starting six matches. His most consistent run came in January when he was named in the starting lineup for four consecutive games as a left wing-back, but his last appearance dates back to February 15th in a 45-minute start against Bologna.
The timing of the surgery is a significant setback for both player and club as they enter the final stretch of the season. Torino, under manager Ivan Juric, are in mid-table and have struggled for consistent attacking output. Aboukhlal, who came through the academy at Feyenoord in Rotterdam, was seen as a potential source of creativity and width, but this injury further limits Juric's options on the left flank.
Aboukhlal's absence compounds Torino's attacking woes, with the team having scored only 26 goals in 31 Serie A matches. His rehabilitation timeline remains unclear, casting serious doubt over his availability for the remainder of the current campaign. The club will be hoping for a positive recovery to ensure the player, who has four caps for Morocco, can return to full fitness and contribute next season, having shown flashes of his ability during his limited involvement.
For Aboukhlal personally, the injury represents another obstacle in a career that has yet to fully ignite at the highest level since his move from the Eredivisie to France and now Italy. His progress will be monitored closely by the Torino medical team in the weeks ahead as they formulate a clearer return-to-play schedule.
