Italy and Gennaro Gattuso were temporarily scared for their World Cup hopes following an injury to Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo. 

However, they ca breath a sigh of relief as Napoli defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s injury isn’t as severe as initially feared.

The 32-year-old was stretchered off during Napoli’s 2-1 win over Fiorentina on Saturday with a knee injury, but exams have revealed a second-degree sprain, ruling out a serious knee ligament injury.

Di Lorenzo’s recovery time is expected to be between 40 and 60 days, putting him back in contention for Italy’s World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland on March 26.

This is great news for Gattuso, who will be hoping to have his versatile defender back in the squad for the crucial match.

The Azzurri will host Northern Ireland in the semifinal, and if they progress, they’ll visit Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Final. Di Lorenzo’s experience and skill will be invaluable to Italy’s chances, and his return will be a significant boost to the team.

Napoli, currently third in Serie A, will also be missing Di Lorenzo for a chunk of the season, but the news could’ve been much worse. The club had initially feared a knee ligament injury, which would’ve ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Di Lorenzo’s injury was a major concern for Napoli, who are already struggling with injuries to Kevin De Bruyne, David Neres, and Billy Gilmour, among others. The news that he’ll be back in around 40-60 days is a relief for coach Antonio Conte.

Gattuso will be keeping a close eye on Di Lorenzo’s progress, hoping to have him back fit for the World Cup play-off. If Italy qualify for the World Cup, it will be a major achievement for the team, and Di Lorenzo’s contribution will be crucial.