Balotelli, who has made only four appearances since re-joining Milan on loan from Liverpool earlier this season, has been sidelined for over a month with the problem and travelled to Denmark last week for a consultation with a leading specialist.

Reports in Italy suggest the striker could miss anywhere between six weeks and three months, harming his hopes of a recall to the Italy squad ahead of next summer's European Championships in France.

Balotelli has not played for Italy since their first-round exit from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he became a scapegoat for the Azzurri's generally poor performances.

However, the striker vowed to make a quick recovery, posting on his Instagram account: “I'll be back in my stadium to play, earlier than what you think!”