Javi Martínez with ACL Tear, to Miss "Several Months"

Bayern Munich announced today that Javi Martínez has an ACL tear and will go to the United States to have an operation. The timetable of his return is still indefinite, but he is expected to miss several months.

Bitter diagnosis: @Javi8martinez has suffered a cruciate ligament tear and will be operated on soon in the USA. He faces several months out.

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) August 14, 2014

Martínez injured his knee when he hit Marcel Schmelzer's elbow while shooting in the DFL Supercup on Wednesday. The 25-year-old was helped off the field, and Dante eventually replaced him in the 31st minute.

After a relatively damage-free first season in Munich, Martínez has now had at least one major injury during each of the last two seasons. The beginning of his 2013/14 season was delayed due to a groin problem, and now he could face a longer absence.

"Of course I'm sad right now, but you do not need to worry about me," Martínez told the club website. "I will come back even stronger."

Martínez's is in the middle of the five-year contract he signed with Bayern Munich in 2012 after his record €40 million transfer fee. He played the entire preseason as a center back after his appearance for Spain in the World Cup in defense, but now he will no longer be an option for Pep Guardiola's back-three.

Bayern's depth in defense has quickly dwindled, with Rafinha going down to injury just five days prior to Martínez's diagnosis. Bayern now only have six healthy defenders at the moment, and one of their best, Philipp Lahm, has played midfield consistently over the past year.

There is no word yet on whether Guardiola will seek a replacement, the gaffer saying a few days ago that his squad was complete. With the domestic season starting on Sunday, Bayern will have to act fast in order to ascertain a solution, whether in-house or externally.