Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez has been ruled out until 2015 after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage during Wednesday’s German Supercup defeat to Borussia Dortmund. The Spain international was carried off on a stretcher half an hour into the match at Signal Iduna Park after staying down following an aerial challenge and tests have revealed the 25-year-old’s injury is a serious one.
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.
“The diagnosis was issued on Thursday after the player underwent a medical conducted by FCB chief medical officer Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt and team doctor Dr Peter Ueblacker. Martinez will be out of action for at least the rest of this year.”
Martinez, who joined Bayern from Athletic Bilbao in 2012, said:
“Obviously I’m extremely sad at this moment, but don’t worry – I’ll come back even stronger.”
Bayern said the versatile midfielder is likely to fly 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.
Martinez’s injury came on a forgettable night for Bayern which saw Pep Guardiola’s under-strength German Bundesliga champions beaten 2-0. Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were enough for Dortmund as Guardiola juggled easing his key players back into action with trying to get one over their rivals.
