Arkadiusz Milik has laid bare the emotional torment behind his injury-plagued spell at Juventus, revealing he would interrupt training sessions to cry in the toilets. The Polish striker, who has managed just two appearances this season, spoke at length to Polish outlet Kanal Sportowy about a two-year ordeal that has left him physically and mentally drained.
Milik’s Juventus journey began with promise. After joining on loan in 2022, he notched 17 goals across 75 games during his first two campaigns, becoming a reliable attacking option. However, a serious injury sustained during Poland’s pre-Euro 2024 preparations derailed everything. The 32-year-old would go on to miss the entire 2024-25 season, a campaign of complete inactivity that sent him spiraling.
The striker described hitting rock bottom in early 2025. “I wanted to quit everything,” he said. “I was at my lowest point. I’d go to the gym to train, but I’d have to stop the session and go to the toilets to let it out and cry.” That level of raw honesty is rare in elite football, highlighting the severe mental strain that accompanies long-term physical injury.
Since that devastating setback, Milik has barely featured. This season, his on-pitch involvement amounts to a mere 34 minutes over two matches, a stark contrast to his earlier output. The repeated setbacks have effectively trapped him in a cycle of rehabilitation and relapse, eroding not only match fitness but also confidence and motivation.
For Juventus, the situation presents a complex dilemma. With Milik still under contract, the club is burdened with a high-earning asset delivering almost no on-field value. The situation is compounded by a wider financial reality: director Comolli recently stated that the club must now sell one more player than originally planned. While not explicitly tied to Milik, the Polish forward’s predicament makes him a prime candidate for a summer exit should a buyer emerge.
Moving on an injury-prone 32-year-old, however, is far from straightforward. Potential suitors will hesitate at the medical risk, and Juventus may need to accept a cut-price deal or even subsidize wages to facilitate a transfer. The Comolli declaration signals a belt-tightening at the Allianz Stadium, where bloated wages for non-contributing players are no longer sustainable.
Beyond the balance sheets, the human cost is equally significant. Milik’s confessional interview sheds light on a topic that remains stigmatised in sport: mental health. His willingness to speak openly about crying during training challenges the stoic facade often expected of athletes. It serves as a reminder that the physical game is only half the story.
The broader context of football’s relentless schedule adds weight to Milik’s story. Players are expected to bounce back from injuries faster than ever, often without sufficient psychological support. In Milik’s case, the isolation of a year without competitive football appears to have been a key factor in his distress.
Looking ahead, the striker’s immediate priority is simply to stay fit and regain some resemblance of form. A player once prolific for Napoli and Marseille still possesses finishing instincts, but time is not on his side. Whether he can force his way back into Juventus’ plans—or find a fresh start elsewhere—remains highly uncertain.
His situation also serves as a cautionary tale for clubs managing ageing squads. Juventus’ financial need to shed an extra player, as highlighted by Comolli, underscores a market correction that will affect many of Europe’s top clubs in coming windows. Long-term contracts for players on the wrong side of 30, especially those with injury histories, are increasingly viewed as liabilities.
Ultimately, Milik’s ordeal transcends the ordinary injury narrative. It exposes the psychological fragility that can accompany the physical demands of professional sport, and it challenges clubs to offer better holistic care. His tears in the training ground toilet are not a sign of weakness, but a stark illustration of the pressures faced by modern footballers.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.