AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati is facing six months out as he requires surgery on his knee.
AC Milan goalkeeper suffers serious knee injury
AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati is facing six months on the sidelines as he requires surgery on his knee.
Abbiati sustained the injury in the opening stages of Sunday's 5-1 victory over Siena and was replaced after 13 minutes by Brazilian Dida.
The 31-year-old was immediately sent to Belgium for a consultation with specialist Marc Martens, who advised a two to three week period of rehabilitation before surgery.
Sky Italia has reported that Abbiati has ruptured ligaments in his right knee and will not feature again this season, with Dida promoted to the No.1 role.
A statement on the club's official website read: "AC Milan would like to communicate that Christian Abbiati was visited by professor Martens in Antwerp on Monday.
"The controls revealed the extent of his injury, and he will now need two to three weeks of rehabilitation before returning to Belgium to undergo surgery."
