AC Milan confirms Mario Balotelli will undergo surgery on ailing groin

Confirming reports from various outlets that had been circulating earlier in the week, AC Milan announced Tuesday that on-loan striker Mario Balotelli will indeed require surgery to remedy the groin injury that has kept him on the sidelines for more than a month.

Balotelli, 25, will head to Germany on Wednesday to go under the knife.

The club did not provide a timeline for a potential return, though reports suggest the polarizing attacker - who has made only four appearances since his loan move from Liverpool - could be on the shelf for three months.

Such a lengthy absence would put the Italian's prospects of featuring for his country at Euro 2016 in jeopardy. Balotelli has not played for the Azzurri since the 2014 World Cup, being ignored by new manager Antonio Conte since the former Juventus boss took the reins of the national team.

Without an extended opportunity to showcase his skills in the buildup to next summer's tournament, it is highly unlikely that Conte would call Balotelli into the squad for the competition.