The AC Milan football club's defender Alessandro Nesta could miss the rest of the season after discovering he has ripped a tendon in his right knee.
The 33-year-old, who has endured a series of injury torments, turned down the chance to come out of international retirement and play for Italy earlier this month.
He was badly missed earlier in the week when Milan lost 4-nil at Manchester United to go out of the Champions League last 16 and the Rossoneri will struggle to fill the void in the Serie A run-in.
Second-placed Milan, four points behind leaders Inter with 11 games left, also have injuries to defenders Luca Antonini, Daniele Bonera and Oguchi Onyewu ahead of this weekend's home game with Chievo.
Leonardo's side have not won the scudetto since 2004.
