AC Milan 'keeper Diego Lopez to 'take time out' as he deals with tendonitis
AC Milan announced Monday that goalkeeper Diego Lopez will "take some time out" to treat an ongoing issue with his left knee.
The 33-year-old Spaniard has been suffering through a case of tendonitis over the past four months. Aided by team medics, Lopez played through the pain, but it has reached a more serious juncture.
"Following a consultation earlier today, the club's medical staff have agreed that Diego Lopez will have to take some time out to follow a specific treatment plan," a statement read on the club's official website.
Manager Sinisa Mihajlovic dropped Lopez to the bench for the past three matches, electing to start 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Related: Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma, 16, becomes youngest 'keeper to start Serie A match
With Milan's blessing, Lopez went to Spain to visit a specialist, and it has been determined he will miss an indeterminate amount of time in a bid to fully recover from the nagging injury.
"For four months, I've been living with patellar tendinitis, in silence. I've tried to recover, working hard with the medical staff at the club," Lopez wrote on his Facebook page. "During this period, I've done everything possible to be at my best, sacrificing myself every day to be available to the coach. Unfortunately the pain persists. I have to stop and start specific treatment. This is the only way to resolve the problem."
Lopez stresses that the decision is purely a medical one, and has nothing to do with being benched in favour of a teenager.
He has started 36 league matches since joining Milan on a free transfer from Real Madrid last summer.