Kevin Strootman ruled out for rest of the season, dashing Manchester United's hopes of signing

AS Roma coach Rudi Garia has confirmed that midfielder Kevin Strootman will miss the remainder of the season following his second knee surgery in under a year.

It was learned last week that the Dutch international would go under the knife, with club officials quickly attempting to ease concerns over the severity of the problem. But it’s understood that during the operation, doctors discovered “significant damaged” that was not expected prior to the surgery.

“Losing him, especially after a long injury, is a catastrophe for us,” Garcia said. “The season is over for Strootman.”

The Roma coach already has an injury list that includes Daniele De Rossi and Federico Balzaretti; and following his side’s 1-1 draw with Empoli yesterday, Garcia lost influential attacker Juan Iturbe.

News of Strootman’s season-ending surgery comes at a bad time for Roma supporters, with their club is chasing Juventus in the Serie A standings. But Manchester United fans will also be disheartened by the story because the Dutch midfielder was being heavily linked to a reunion with manager Louis van Gaal next summer.

It’s too early to determine whether or not the 24-year-old’s latest surgery is career-threatening, but United officials would definitely need to take pause in their reported pursuit of the influential midfielder and closely monitor the player’s rehabilitation, once again.

In July 2014, while coaching the Dutch national team, Van Gaal was asked about Strootman just prior to a relapse of the player’s injury.

“I never say anything about individual players. It is my vision that we talk about a team and not individual players,” Van Gaal said in July. “But Strootman I can judge. He is injured and more than six months, though, and we have to wait and see how he comes back.”

“It’s not easy to say how he comes back from injury, but we will wait and see.”

Once again, fans are left to “wait and see” on the fitness of Kevin Strootman.