Maldini injures ankle, out one month

MILAN, Italy (Reuters) -- AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini will miss the start of the Serie A season after picking up an ankle injury in training that will sideline him for at least a month.

Italian media reported on Sunday that the former Italy international defender needed to wait for tests on the twisted ankle next week but was certain to miss the European Super Cup game against Porto on August 29 and Milan's opening Serie A fixture against Ancona two days later.

His absence will hand Brazilian international Roque Junior a chance in the centre of the European champions' defence alongside Italian Alessandro Nesta.

Maldini, Italy's most capped player, retired from the national team after the 2002 World Cup.

 

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