Western United will have to take on their A-League Men finals campaign without their biggest star after Alessandro Diamanti confirmed his knee injury is season-ending.
Diamanti underwent a knee arthroscopy on the weekend to get to the root of a "mystery" injury that has sidelined him since February 20.
While he has avoided serious injury, Diamanti, who arrived to Wednesday's finals launch with a crutch, won't play again this season.
United play in Saturday's elimination final against Wellington at AAMI Park.
"I'm out and it's sad for me because you how much passion I have for my job, for the game, also for Australia, for the A-League," he said.
"It's a bit sad because I want to play on the big stage and I deserve to play because we deserve to play."
Diamanti was happy to avoid serious injury and was turning his focus to rehabilitation.
"It's nothing, a clean-up. There was some issues since a couple of months ago. It was like John Aloisi said, a little mystery.
"So now we figured out what I got and now I'm ready to rehab, ready to work out, ready to come back like I want.
"It was something mechanic. We took a look, we cleaned and nothing's wrong. I'm lucky because it's the first surgery after a 23-year career."
Diamanti, 39, is out of contract at season's end but indicated if he recovered well, he would look to go around again.
"My signing with my club will never be a problem because we have an unbelievable relationship so we can decide what we want to do. We are adults, no?" he said.
"I'm just focused on my rehab, I just focus to come back like I want. I want to come back fit, I want to come back to make the difference like I have always done in my life.
"I (am at) the age also to stop, 39. It's old.
"But if I'm honest, if I'm still with this passion, if I can train every day like I want and enjoy around the pitch, enjoy the guys, the training ground, Australia, why not?"
Diamanti has been a vocal presence on United's bench through his injury and will continue to do so, before returning to Italy for a long-awaited holiday.
"After we've won a grand final, we celebrate and I bring the trophy to Italy, to share it with my friends," he said with a laugh.
