<
>

Internacional's World Cup veteran Juan sidelined for rest of year

SAO PAULO -- Internacional's World Cup veteran defender Juan will be sidelined for the remainder of the year because of a foot injury.

Juan, who played for Brazil in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, ruptured a tendon in his foot during Internacional's 5-0 loss to Chapecoense in the Brazilian league last week.

He had already missed the team's 2-1 win over Fluminense over the weekend, and team doctors say he will need surgery and won't be able to play again until 2015. The surgery is scheduled for Friday.

Juan helped Brazil win the Copa America in 2004 and 2007, as well as the Confederations Cup in 2005 and 2009.

The 35-year-old central defender previously played for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany and AS Roma in Italy.