Materazzi blow for Inter and Italy

FC Internazionale Milano defender Marco Materazzi is expected to be out for four months after undergoing surgery for a thigh injury sustained during Italy's 3-1 friendly defeat in Hungary last night.

'Four months'
The 34-year-old was operated on today after doctors in Pavia, Italy, discovered a large blood clot in his injured right thigh. "The haematoma was huge," said surgeon Franco Benazzo. "It normally takes four months to have the leg back in working order after a problem like this."

'Back before Christmas'
With Italy team doctor Andrea Ferretti saying, "I hope he will be back before Christmas", Materazzi is likely to miss key matches for club and country. Italy's five remaining UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers will be played between September and November, while Italian title-holders Inter's UEFA Champions League group stage campaign runs from 18/19 September until 11/12 December. The centre-back was in such pain that he passed out in the dressing room at the Ferenc Puskás Stadium in Budapest.