Rafael Leão will not feature in Milan's friendly against Manchester United on Saturday after picking up a muscle problem in training.
The timing lands awkwardly. Leão has spent the summer at the centre of exit talk, keen to leave after seven years at the club, and Milan have yet to find him a new home at the price they want for their No.10.
According to Luca Bianchin of Gazzetta dello Sport, the muscle problem means Leão will not travel with the squad for the match in Poland. As things stand, his availability for the season opener against Torino is also in doubt.
Further tests are due today and over the coming days to establish how serious the injury is. Until those results come back, the length of any absence is not clear.
The setback complicates the transfer picture as well as the schedule. Bianchin reports that Galatasaray are still in talks over the forward, though the Turkish club are unlikely to meet Milan's €50m valuation.
An injury does little to help a sale that was already stuck, and with the tests still pending, the next move belongs to the medical staff before anyone can talk mercato again.