Not an unforgettable beginning of the week for Napoli that have been drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League knock out stage and could miss their star Kalidou Koulibaly for over two months. The solid rock centre-back was replaced during Napoli’s 5-0 win over Cagliari yesterday because of a hit at his knee and medical tests have diagnosed the Senegalese defender with an elongation of the external collateral ligament of the left knee.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has announced Koulibaly’s medical tests result during an interview released with Radio Kiss Kiss. The same radio station has also interviewed Napoli doctor Alfonso De Nicola who revealed that Koulibaly could take up to 15 days to recover and return to action.

The 25-year-old will skip the incoming Serie A game against Torino and could return to February if he’s also to skip the last game of the year against Fiorentina. Koulibaly will then travel to Gabon to play the Africa Cup of Nations with his national team and could return to action in February if Senegal manage to reach to final of the tournament.