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Representing the Argentine national team, center back Gonzalo Rodriguez will most likely miss almost the entire upcoming season after tearing the cruciate ligaments of his right knee in a friendly match against Real Madrid.
"Gonzalo suffered a very serious injury," said Villarreal president Fernando Roig after the 1-0 victory in the Ramon de Carranza tournament in Cadiz. "We will have to do without him for the next seven months. It is a very big loss."
The Spanish team announced that more detailed tests will be performed on the Argentine on Monday to determine the severity of the injury.
The 22-year-old defender, who joined Villarreal in 2004 from San Lorenzo, did not participate in the recently ended World Cup in Germany due to straining the tendons of his left shin in April.
Villarreal has been targeting Argentine defender Roberto Ayala from Valencia for some time, but Valencia does not want to sell the former Argentine national team captain, even though he has expressed a desire to leave.
In the first Spanish league match next weekend, Villarreal will face Real Madrid in Madrid.
