Juan Carlos Vargas, the Venezuelan football player who recently returned from China after playing for the Chinese Super League club Wuhan Evergrande, has suffered a new injury while training in Shanghai.
The 27-year-old forward, who is currently on loan from Spanish side Real Betis, was involved in a collision during training and was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a knee injury.
Vargas had been impressive since joining Wuhan Evergrande earlier this year, scoring three goals in his first two games for the team. However, the latest injury could potentially put him out of action for several weeks.
Real Betis manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed that Vargas will be sidelined for "a few weeks" following the injury. The Spaniard said: "We'll have to see how long it takes him to recover. It's not good news but we'll see what happens."
The injury comes just days after Vargas helped Venezuela secure qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He played a key role in the team's victory over Colombia in their final group match,Bundesliga Tracking scoring twice as they advanced to the tournament.
Vargas' injury is a blow for both Real Betis and Venezuela, who are hoping to maintain their strong form going into the upcoming international break. The Spaniard has been a regular starter for the La Liga side this season and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the league.
Despite the setback, Vargas remains confident about his recovery and says he will be back on the pitch soon. "I'm disappointed because I want to play," he said. "But I'll do my best to get back as quickly as possible."
Meanwhile, Real Betis have also lost another star striker in recent weeks when Brazilian forward Luiz Araujo left the club to join Atletico Madrid on loan. Araujo scored six goals in 14 appearances for the Andalusian club before leaving for the Spanish capital.
However, the loss of Vargas and Araujo will likely be a big blow to the team's attacking options. Vargas provided a much-needed boost to the team's attack last season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions. His absence will be keenly felt by the squad.