Martin Caceres may have played his last game for Juventus after tearing his Achilles tendon during Wednesday night's 1-0 win over Genoa.
Caceres, who is out of contract in the summer, is set to miss up to eight months after being forced to leave the field on a stretcher.
Juventus confirmed the defender's injury on their official website and said he would have surgery on Friday.
The Uruguayan was in tears as he punched the pitch in agony and his absence will leave coach Massimiliano Allegri one man lighter with the transfer window now shut.
And for Caceres, 28, it means an uncertain future with no more opportunities to prove he warrants a new deal, with his current terms to expire in the summer.
"We're sorry for Caceres because he's crucial for us because he's so reliable and relaxed," teammate Andrea Barzagli said in La Stampa.
The loss of Caceres may mean Daniel Rugani will be able to add to his five Serie A appearances and one Champions League game since arriving from Empoli in the summer, but it leaves the Bianconeri with little room for manoeuvre ahead of their Champions League round-of-16 tie with Bayern Munich.
With Sami Khedira a doubt for that game -- although the Italian club have yet to confirm the extent of the injury which saw him miss Wednesday night's match at the Juventus Stadium -- and Mario Mandzukic also fighting to be fit to face his former club, Allegri can ill-afford to lose any more players for a defining fixture in his side's season on Feb. 23.