Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez has been ruled out for most part of the season after tearing knee ligaments during Wednesday’s German Super Cup defeat by rivals Borussia Dortmund.
The Spain international was stretchered off in the 30th minute of the match at the Westfalenstadion, after he struck Dortmund’s Marcel Schmelzer’s arm with his knee in an aerial challenge.
A Bayern statement read: “Javi Martinez and Bayern’s worst fears have been realised after it was revealed the midfielder sustained a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee in Wednesday evening’s Supercup clash in Dortmund.
“Martinez will be out of action for at least the rest of this year.”
Martinez said he was “very sad”, but promised to return “even stronger”.
The reigning Bundesliga champions are likely to fly the playmaker to Vail Colorado in the next few days for surgery to repair the damage before starting a sports rehab programme on his return to Munich.
The 25-year-old’s injury adds to a long growing list at the Allianz Arena, which already has Frenchman Franck Ribery, Rafinha and Thiago Alcantara. Manager Pep Guardiola had claimed to have only “eight or nine fully-fit players” prior to last night’s kick-off.
Goals from Henry Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang denied the Spanish boss a second successive Super Cup trophy in his second season with the Bavarians.
