Serie A returned from the merged international window with 21 new physical problems in three weeks, 15 of them in national-team duty. AC Milan and Genoa also carried the heaviest minute loads, which is why the break has already turned into an availability issue rather than just a workload discussion.
Milan and Genoa carried the heaviest loads
Milan's internationals logged 2,624 minutes, the highest total in the group cited by Sky Sport Italia. Genoa were next on 1,630, while Atalanta reached 2,427, another sign that the biggest burdens sat with clubs that leaned heavily on international players.
Pervis Estupiñán also adds a more immediate club example. Sky Sport Italia said he suffered a knee trauma against Japan, and he had already made 5 Serie A appearances this season and played 282 league minutes before the break injury.
The warning around the injury count
Daniele De Rossi, speaking to Sky Sport Italia, said: "The first numbers we have are of almost twice as many injuries compared with last year’s break." The comparison is strong as a warning sign, but the raw count also matters: 21 players suffered a new physical problem during the three weeks away from club football.
Fifteen of those injuries came with national teams, and 6 came in club training or friendlies. That split points to where the strain was most concentrated, even if it does not prove every injury came directly from international duty.
Genoa's situation looks more awkward because the club is already 19th in Serie A with 1 point, and De Rossi's warning lands on top of that pressure. The league now goes back into domestic fixtures with Milan, Genoa and other heavy users of internationals already carrying a pile of extra miles.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
