Pato's season in doubt after another pulled muscle
Reuters - Thursday 05 April 2012, 12:49
Troubled Brazil and AC Milan
striker Alexandre Pato's season could be over after the
22-year-old suffered what Gazzetta dello Sport said was his 14th
muscular injury since the start of 2010.
Pato came on as a substitute in the Champions League match
against Barcelona on Tuesday but lasted only 13 minutes before
limping with another injury.
Milan, who last month sent the player to the United States
to try and clear up his constant injury problems, confirmed that
Pato had suffered a problem in his left thigh and would undergo
further tests in 10 to 15 days.
"AC Milan wishes to communicate that Alexandre Pato
underwent medical scans today at the Galeazzi Orthopedic
Institute in Milan," said the club in a statement.
"The scans revealed a muscular lesion in his left thigh.
Between 10 and 15 days from today, the player will undergo more
medical tests."
With the season due to finish in mid-May, Italian media
concluded that he would take no further part in Serie A where
Milan have a two-point lead over Juventus.
But his injury troubles began in the 2009/10 season, costing
him a place in Brazil's World Cup squad.
Since then, he has played well in fits and starts. He scored
two goals for Brazil at the Copa America last year but failed to
inspire them beyond the quarter-finals where they lost on
penalties to Paraguay.