Roma full-back Rick Karsdorp faces a further six months on the sidelines after the Serie A club confirmed he had ruptured his cruciate ligaments while making his debut on Wednesday night.
Karsdorp, 22, damaged ligaments just days after joining the Giallorossi from Feyenoord in the summer.
After spending the past three-and-a-half months on the sidelines, he made his debut in Roma's 1-0 win over Crotone, but he twisted his other knee and underwent tests after the game.
They confirmed that he had ruptured his ligaments, meaning he is now likely to miss the remainder of the season.
"Immediately following the match between Roma and Crotone, the Roma medical staff conducted medical checks on Rick Karsdorp, who twisted his left knee during the second half of the game at the Stadio Olimpico," a club statement read. "Having sustained suspected ligament damage, the player was subject to further examination during the night.
"It was subsequently confirmed that he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. On Thursday afternoon specialist surgeon Professor Mariani will conduct further tests on the player, in order to establish a treatment procedure."
The defender lasted 82 minutes of his debut before being replaced with an injury that is now expected to keep him out of action for six more months.
He signed a five-year contract with the Eternal City club in the summer, but becomes the latest Roma player to tear knee ligaments.
Antonio Rudiger (now at Chelsea), Mario Rui, Alessandro Florenzi (twice), Emerson Palmieri, Luca Pellegrini and Elio Capradossi all picked up similar injuries over the past 18 months.
