Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin's hopes of being Italy's third goalkeeper at Euro 2016 have ended after he was diagnosed with a cruciate ligament tear in his right knee, raising the chance of 17-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma earning a call.
Perin, who was the main candidate to be backup to Gianluigi Buffon and Salvatore Sirigu in the Italy squad for the European Championship this summer, picked up the injury during his side's win at Sassuolo on Saturday.
"Tests have revealed that Mattia Perin has broken his anterior cruciate ligament and damaged his meniscus in his right knee," read a statement on the Serie A club's website.
"Tomorrow, Wednesday April 13, Perin will be operated on by professor Pier Paolo Mariani at the Villa Stuart clinic."
He will be out for around six months, ruling him out of Euro 2016 and the start of next season.
Donnarumma, who has established himself as AC Milan's No. 1 goalkeeper this season, is a candidate to replace him in Antonio Conte's squad. He made his debut for Italy's under-21s last month and could be taken to France as third-choice goalkeeper.
The Milan teenager is reportedly attracting the attention of Chelsea and is widely being tipped to become Italy's new No. 1 once Buffon, 38, retires.