BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Boca Juniors winger Exequiel Zeballos will miss the Copa Libertadores final next month due to a serious knee injury.
The 21-year-old was carried off the pitch in tears after his right knee buckled during Boca's 4-3 defeat at Belgrano in Argentina's Primera Division on Tuesday.
Subsequent scans confirmed the club's worst fears and he is expected to be sidelined for six to eight months.
"He will undergo preoperative rehabilitation and, when he is ready, surgery will be scheduled," the Buenos Aires club said in a statement posted on social media.
Zeballos has been an important member of the Boca squad that advanced to the Copa Libertadores final by beating Palmeiras on penalties last week.
Boca will be vying to win South America's premier club trophy for a seventh time when they meet Fluminense at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium on November 4. ■
