Roma forward Juan Iturbe could be out for the rest of the season after the Serie A side confirmed the Argentinian has ligament damage in both his knee and ankle.

Iturbe was forced off in the 25th minute of Roma's 1-1 home draw with struggling Empoli on Saturday after twisting his knee and ankle as he turned awkwardly following a challenge.

He was sent for tests on Sunday which Roma said "revealed a distortive trauma to his right knee, with damage to the lateral collateral ligament.

"Iturbe also suffered a strain to his right ankle and potential ligament damage. The player has already started treatment on the injury," added the club statement.

Roma did not say for how long Iturbe would be sidelined, although reports in Italy suggest the 22-year-old will struggle to return this season.

It is Roma's second significant blow in recent days, after Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman was forced to undergo keyhole surgery on his troublesome left knee which has left huge doubts over the rest of his season.

Strootman had only returned to the fray before Christmas after missing most of last season and the 2014 World Cup due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered last March.

Roma, who sit second in Serie A seven points behind champions and leaders Juventus after their scoreless draw at Udinese, also have influential defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi out for a month.

Iturbe's injury has added extra importance to the acquisition of CSKA Moscow forward Seydou Doumbia, who has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the club.

On Sunday, Roma were celebrating having signed what they called: "A proven, prolific goalscorer."

Doumbia becomes the second Ivory Coast striker at the club, joining countryman Gervinho in the Italian capital in a deal worth 14.4m euros.

The 27-year-old's arrival, following the Africa Cup of Nations, will also help plug the gap left by the departure of Mattia Destro to AC Milan last week.