ROME, March 10 — AS Roma’s Dutch international midfielder Kevin Strootman will miss the World Cup after being ruled out for the rest of the season with ruptured knee ligaments, the Serie A Club said today.

The 24-year-old will undergo surgery and could take between four and six months to recover.

Strootman initially suffered a knock in the Netherlands’ international friendly with France last week.

He was in Roma’s starting line-up against Napoli on Sunday but collapsed in the 12th minute and was carried off on a stretcher.

Strootman had reportedly been a target of English Premier League side Manchester United for next season.

The World Cup takes place in Brazil from June 12-July 13. — AFP