Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon may have played his last game of 2017 after he was ruled out of Saturday night's Serie A clash with Roma due to a calf injury.
Buffon, 39, has missed Juve's past three fixtures due to the injury and his coach Massimiliano Allegri has raised doubts about him featuring in either of their next two before the turn of the year.
"He won't be playing against Roma," Allegri confirmed at a news conference when asked if Buffon has been ruled out until 2018. "Until he's resolved his problems with his calf, it's unlikely we're going to see him back in action immediately."
Buffon, who has started just 10 of the Bianconeri's 17 Serie A fixtures this season, could therefore miss the trip to Hellas Verona and even the Coppa Italia quarterfinal against Torino on Jan. 3.
His absence means Wojciech Szczesny will face his former club on Saturday.
"It's a strange situation for me, not being the regular first choice, but I made a decision for my future and while it seemed right for me before, I am even more convinced about it now," Szczesny told RAI in an interview prior to the Coppa Italia win over Genoa in midweek.
"I came here hoping to become [first choice], but I have got to earn it. Being [Buffon's] back-up is a life experience. I was just a boy when he was winning the World Cup. Juve need to have one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I'm not saying I am not there yet, but I do still need to improve."
Buffon is expected to retire in the summer, although there have recently been suggestions he is contemplating playing on for another season.
He was caught on camera talking with Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio prior to the two sides' recent Serie A fixture and appeared to be saying that he would like to continue, if he still feels considered important by his club.