AC Milan midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura will be out of action for the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee, the Serie A club said on Tuesday.
Milan said Bonaventura underwent a cartilage repair procedure in Pittsburgh in the United States.
"(It) was successful and the recovery time is estimated in eight to nine months," the club said in a statement.
The 29-year-old has been a regular for Milan since joining them from Atalanta in 2014, scoring three goals in eight outings this season. He has also made 14 appearances for Italy.
Giacomo Bonaventura plays for Italy's national team. /VCG Photo
The knee suffered an inflammation after the 1-0 defeat to neighbors Inter Milan in October.
Milan are suffering what coach Gennaro Gattuso has described as an emergency with a number of players out through injury.
They include Croatia fullback Ivan Strinic, defenders Alessio Romagnoli, Mateo Musacchio and Mattia Caldara and midfielder Lucas Biglia.