Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny suffered a fractured nose in last weekend's derby draw with Torino but is unlikely to be seen wearing a protective mask on his return to action, with the Pole preferring to leave them for Zorro.
Szczęsny took a blow to the nose from the arm of Torino defender Adam Masina close to the end of Saturday's 0-0 draw. The Poland keeper, nicknamed Tek, finished the game before having surgery to reduce the fracture of the nasal bones.
"You wanted to see Tek running with the mask on? Never! Never with the mask! The mask is for Zorro," Szczęsny, with his nose bandaged, said in a video posted by Juventus on social media platform X on Thursday.
Zorro, which means fox in Spanish, is a fictional masked vigilante who has appeared in magazines, books and films.
The 34-year-old Szczęsny was expected to miss Juve's next couple of games but manager Massimiliano Allegri told a press conference he was available for Friday's match at Cagliari.
Szczęsny was the hero of Poland's Euro 2024 qualifying playoff game against Wales on March 26. In the penalty shootout, the Pole saved Daniel James' right footed shot in the bottom left corner, securing Poland's place in the summer tournament hosted by Germany.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been wearing a mask since January 2022 after suffering several facial fractures. The Nigeria forward has long since recovered but continues to wear the mask for a sense of security.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Imago