AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato out 3-4 weeks

AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato out 3-4 weeks

Published Jan. 19, 2012 10:08 p.m. ET

AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato will be out for three to four weeks after the latest in a series of muscle injuries.

Pato scored in extra time to give Milan a 2-1 win over Novara and put his team into the Italian Cup quarterfinals Wednesday but then exited four minutes from time grasping his left thigh.

Milan announced late Thursday that Pato has a mild left thigh muscle tear, saying he will be out ''three to four weeks, barring complications.''

Pato already missed the start of this season due to a muscle problem, and his entire career with Milan has been marked by similar injuries.

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Meanwhile, Milan announced it has signed Djamel Mesbah from Lecce and given the Algerian midfielder a contract through 2016.

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