Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman has suffered a new injury nightmare after specialist assessments on his knee saw him ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Strootman, who is thought to be a priority transfer target for Manchester United in the summer transfer window, complained of pain in his knee last Sunday when in action for Roma against Fiorentina.
Given Strootman only returned from a serious cruciate knee ligament injury in November, Roma opted to take no chances and sent him to Amsterdam to see specialists.
Now the news is in, with Strootman having suffered damage to the cartilage in his knee – he will not play again this season.
Roma coach Rudi Garcia was frank with reporters: "To lose him after he just came back from a lengthy injury is a catastrophe.
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"Strootman's season is over. It's a tragedy", the Frenchman added.
Roma will now have to battle for the Serie A title without Strootman, while he is also a doubt for the Netherlands' Euro 2016 qualifier against Latvia in June.
It also remains to be seen whether the injury means Manchester United will abandon their interest in the midfielder.
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