Former Barcelona star Carles Perez has been sidelined after suffering a bizarre and painful injury caused by a dog bite to his genitals.
The 27-year-old winger, who is currently on loan at Greek club Aris Thessaloniki from Celta Vigo, was reportedly trying to separate his own dog from another when the incident occurred. According to reports from The Mirror on Thursday, Perez sustained injuries that required six stitches and was promptly admitted to a private hospital in Panorama, a suburb near Thessaloniki.
Although the injury is not life-threatening, medical sources say he remains under observation and may require surgery, casting doubt on the timeline for his return to action.
As a result, Perez has been ruled out of Aris Thessaloniki’s crucial UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against Azerbaijani side Araz-Naxçıvan PFK. The Greek club trails 2-1 from the first leg and faces an uphill battle in the return fixture.
Aris manager Marinos Ouzounidis confirmed that Perez was in his starting line-up plans before the unexpected incident.
“Carles would have been in the starting line-up. This incident happened, but we can’t dwell on it any longer. My mind is working on alternative solutions, and we have prepared accordingly,” Ouzounidis told reporters.
He also highlighted the importance of mental strength within the team. “That’s why I insist on having players with strong personalities. What matters now is the group of players available to give their best.”
Perez, who spent eight formative years with FC Barcelona, is now expected to spend time recovering off the pitch while Aris continues its European campaign without one of its key attacking options.
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