Kaio Jorge says injury prevented him from fulfilling Juventus potential

Former Juventus striker Kaio Jorge has reflected on his time at the Turin club, attributing his underwhelming spell to a serious knee injury sustained early in his tenure. Speaking to Cronache di Spogliatoio, the Brazilian suggested that without the setback, he would have remained at Juventus and achieved greater success with the Serie A side.

Jorge joined Juventus from Santos as a teenager in 2021 but struggled to establish himself during his five months at the club. He stated that he featured less frequently than anticipated, hoping for at least 20 minutes of playing time per match despite performing well in training and scoring in friendly fixtures.

The forward's trajectory was disrupted in February 2022 when he ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee while playing for Juventus' Under-23 side. Jorge acknowledged that this injury significantly impacted his development in Turin, limiting his opportunities to prove himself at the highest level.

After an extended recovery period, Jorge spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Frosinone before joining Cruzeiro on a permanent basis in June 2024. He has since rebuilt his career in Brazil, though he expressed continued affection for Juventus, crediting the club for supporting him through his rehabilitation and enabling him to fulfil his European ambitions.

Jorge indicated his readiness to return to Italian football, suggesting he would now be better equipped to perform at a higher level than during his initial Juventus spell.