Chivu faces further frustration

Recovery insufficient
Chivu had resumed training with his Roma team-mates earlier this month and played the final 27 minutes of the UEFA Champions League draw with Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 3 November, his only appearance in nearly six months. However, the 24-year-old continued to struggle with pain and the Roma medical staff decided that he needed another operation to recover fully from his injury.

Campaign concludes
Roma's Group B fixture against Real Madrid CF on 8 December will be their last European game of the season as they cannot finish higher than fourth in their pool. Chivu also looks likely to miss Romania's FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 1 fixtures in March against the Netherlands and F.Y.R. Macedonia. He has until 29 May to recover if he is to play any further part in Roma's Serie A campaign.