São Paulo FC have confirmed that their Brazilian defender, Alex Telles, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury.
The news comes as a blow to the team's defensive line, which has already struggled this season without Telles' presence. The 29-year-old has made 46 appearances in all competitions for the club since joining from Benfica in 2018.
Telles suffered the injury during a match against Santos on Sunday and underwent surgery on Tuesday. He is expected to be sidelined for several months, which means he will miss the rest of the league campaign and possibly the Copa Libertadores, the South American club competition.
São Paulo have been without Telles for much of the season due to various injuries, including a thigh problem earlier in the year. However,Premier League Frontline his absence was particularly noticeable when they lost 3-1 to Vasco da Gama in a recent match.
The injury could also impact the future of Telles, who has expressed interest in moving abroad after his contract expires next summer. He has previously played for Manchester United, AC Milan, and Inter Milan, but it remains to be seen if he will continue his career in Brazil or move abroad.
Despite the setback, São Paulo remain hopeful of a strong finish to the season, with Telles' replacement in the defense yet to be determined. The club will hope to bounce back from this latest setback and secure a top-four finish in the league.