THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROME — AS Roma captain Francesco Totti could face more surgery and another long injury layoff due to a right knee problem.
Totti’s ligaments were damaged when he attempted a long-range shot in the 36th minute of a 1-1 draw with Livorno in the Serie A on Saturday.
“Now, we’ve got to establish if it’s a partial or complete tear of the cruciate ligament,” Roma physician Mario Brozzi told the ANSA news agency. “Only then can we decide whether or not to operate.”
Totti was taken to a local hospital for an MRI and exited with a cast on, the Apcom news agency reported.
In February 2006, Totti broke his left leg and strained ligaments in his ankle. Since then, he has played with a metal rod and about 10 support screws inside his left ankle.
Totti has also struggled lately with a right foot problem and back pain. He missed both legs of the Champions League quarterfinals against Manchester United earlier this month with a muscle tear in his left thigh.
Totti retired from Italy’s national team in July 2007.