Real Madrid centre-back Pepe is set to miss the start of the La Liga season after tests confirmed he has suffered a thigh muscle injury.
Pepe was substituted just 15 minutes into Tuesday's preseason friendly at Bayern Munich and, although Madrid coach Rafa Benitez played down the seriousness of the issue after that game, it now looks very unlikely that the Portugal international will be available for the start of Madrid's La Liga campaign at Sporting Gijon on Aug. 23.
Madrid's club statement did not specify the expected time on the sidelines, however Marca report that the 32-year-old is unlikely to be back in time for the season opening trip to El Molinon.
"After tests carried out on the player Pepe at the Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Moraleja a muscular injury in his right leg has been diagnosed," the statement read. "Recovery time depends on how situation evolves."
The injury to one of Madrid's three established senior centre-backs may have a knock-on effect on fellow defender Sergio Ramos' contract situation, with a potential move to Manchester United apparently back on according to reports in AS which said the Spain international was upset to have not yet received a sufficiently attractive new contract offer from club president Florentino Perez.
New coach Benitez's preparations for the coming season have already been significantly affected by injuries -- with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Asier Illarramendi and Fabio Coentrao all missing warm-up games due to a variety of different issues.
Benzema, who returned from Madrid's Far-East tour with what the club said was a "muscle injury in his right thigh," is the other most concerning situation ahead of the La Liga kick-off.
No further details on his condition have been forthcoming, with Benitez saying this week he "did not know" when the France international would be available for selection, and Marca claiming the 27-year-old is aiming to return for the home game against Real Betis at the Bernabeu on Aug. 29.
The striker has featured in just two of Madrid's preseason games, with youngster Jese Rodriguez the usual selection in the centre-forward role. While in Germany, Benitez spoke about how he was still looking to get the right balance in attack, something not helped by superstar Ronaldo also missing the Audi Cup games against Tottenham and Bayern with an unspecified back complaint.