Whooping Cough Outbreak Forces Sassuolo to Call Up 14 Youngsters Against Juventus - Elbotola
Elbotola Logo
Whooping Cough Outbreak Forces Sassuolo to Call Up 14 Youngsters Against Juventus

Whooping Cough Outbreak Forces Sassuolo to Call Up 14 Youngsters Against Juventus

G. E (Elbotola)
21 March 2026at20:15

Italian club Sassuolo is grappling with a severe health crisis following an outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) among its players. This has resulted in significant absences ahead of their Serie A match against Juventus. The emergency situation has compelled the technical staff to assemble an exceptional squad, featuring 14 players born after 2000, to compensate for the substantial numerical shortage in the main lineup.

Players confirmed to be unavailable due to the infection include Nemanja Matic and Kristian Thorstvedt, alongside goalkeeper Stefano Turati and Wooyo Koulibaly. In light of this, the club management has opted not to disclose the identities of all affected players, citing medical privacy, and has instead only released the list of players available for the fixture.

This acute shortage has opened the door for Bakoula, born in 2007, to make his first Serie A start. He joined the team last January from Marseille in a deal valued at 10 million euros plus bonuses. Although Armand Laurienté was included in the matchday squad, he was not named in the starting eleven for the encounter against Juventus.

What caused Sassuolo to call up 14 youngsters for the Juventus match?

Sassuolo called up 14 youngsters for the Juventus match due to a severe whooping cough outbreak among its main squad players. This health crisis led to significant absences, compelling the technical staff to assemble an exceptional lineup.

How has the whooping cough outbreak impacted Sassuolo's squad selection?

The whooping cough outbreak severely impacted Sassuolo's squad selection by forcing the inclusion of 14 players born after 2000. This acute shortage meant a 2007-born talent, Bakoula, was set to make his first Serie A start against Juventus.

What are the implications for Sassuolo's future matches given the health crisis?

The implications for Sassuolo's future matches are uncertain, as the club faces ongoing challenges with player availability due to the whooping cough outbreak. The current situation suggests continued reliance on youth players until the main squad fully recovers.
Sassuolo
Juventus
Italian Serie A

Related articles