The 3-1 victory over Palermo came at a heavy price.
“AC Milan announce that the player Filippo Inzaghi underwent tests this morning which confirmed the lesion of the anterior cruciate ligament and associated lesion to the external meniscus of the left knee,” read a statement.
“After a specialist consultation with Dr Piero Volpi, a surgical intervention was advised.”
This means the season is effectively over for Inzaghi. Pato also limped off during the same match with a minor thigh strain, but it is still enough to rule him out of matches against Inter on Sunday and Fiorentina on November 20.
Inzaghi insists, “I will do everything to ensure this is not the end.”
“Life and football are like this. One minute you’re playing and fighting, the next you’re clutching your knee in your hands,” he wrote on the official club website.
“A minute after that you are looking around you. What I saw around me was all of you. Thank you.
“I have been moved by all of you, the club, the Coach, my teammates and fans. I look to you and in turn you embrace me.”
“Deep down in your hearts you all know, as do I, that it will be difficult, but I won’t give up. I will do everything, believe me, to ensure this is not the end.
“I will do that in part thanks to your strength and energy.”
The knee specialist who will perform the surgery also agreed Inzaghi could recover to play again.
“The recovery time is around five to six months, so we can safely say the season is over,” Dr Piero Volpi told MilanNews.it.
“With the right surgery and a good plan of recovery, Inzaghi will be available to start the next season.
“His age will have absolutely no bearing on the matter. I found the player to be perfectly healthy in every other respect so, save for complications, he should respect the recovery timetable.”
Milan are likely to consider moving in the January transfer window to find a replacement for Inzaghi. A candidate could be Parma ace Alberto Paloschi, who is co-owned by the two teams.
