Madrid - Valencia will be without central defender Alexis for up to four months, the Spanish club announced on Tuesday night.

Alexis, 23, underwent an operation on Tuesday evening on his damaged pubis and will be out of action until spring, according to Enrique Gastaldi, the doctor who carried out the operation.

The young defender has been complaining about pain in the pubis for two months now. He limped out of Valencia's 3-2 win over Betis on 30 November, and has not played since.

Valencia's other injury victims at the moment are Emiliano Moretti, Edu and David Silva. (dpa)