AC Milan announced on Tuesday that Ismael Bennacer will be sidelined for a minimum of six months following knee surgery.
The 25-year-old midfielder was substituted in the 17th minute during Milan’s 2-0 loss to Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final last week. Bennacer, who represents Algeria internationally, underwent a procedure on Tuesday morning to address cartilage damage in his right knee.
Milan will be aiming to overturn their first-leg deficit in the second leg of the intense local derby scheduled for Tuesday night.
The club’s official statement reads: “AC Milan announces that Ismaël Bennacer underwent surgery on his right knee in Lyon this morning.”
“The repair of the cartilage lesion was successfully performed by Dr. Bertrand Sonnery Cottet in the presence of AC Milan’s club doctor, Dr. Stefano Mazzoni.”
“The recovery time is estimated to be at least six months.”