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French defender Robert Pires will miss the majority of his first season at the club after tearing the cruciate ligaments in his left knee during training on Monday. This is already the second such injury within "Villarreal" ranks in just a few days.
The former London "Arsenal" defender, who signed a two-year contract with "Villarreal" at the end of last season, suffered the injury in a friendly match against "Cadiz" on Friday.
The 32-year-old full-back became the second player of the "Yellow Submarine" to experience such an injury in just a few days.
On Saturday, in the same tournament match against Madrid's "Real", the cruciate ligaments in the right knee of the Argentine national team midfielder Gonzalo Rodriguez also tore.
"It's the same injury as Gonzalo's," club president Fernando Roig told journalists. "He will need surgery."
F. Roig added that the club will look for players who can replace both team members who suffered serious injuries.
