Filipe Luis out for rest of season with broken leg and ankle

Jan 24, 2010, 11:52 GMT

Madrid - Spanish giants Deportivo Coruna confirmed on Sunday that Filipe Luis will be out of action for between four and six months, which effectively means that his season has come to an end.

He will almost certainly miss the World Cup finals for Brazil.

Rafael Arriaza, Deportivo's head doctor, confirmed that Filipe Luis has broken his right ankle and shin. He underwent an emergency operation in La Coruna early on Sunday.

The 24-year-old left-back suffered the injury when scoring the first goal in Deportivo's 3-1 home win over Athletic Bilbao late on Saturday, when he collided with Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz.

Iraizoz visited the Brazilian in hospital early on Saturday, just after the operation, accompanied by Deportivo coach Miguel Angel Lotina.

On Sunday Lotina said that 'he is like a son to me, and did not deserve this.'

Messages of support and encouragement for Filipe Luis from team-mates and fans have been pouring in on Sunday.

He was in the best form of his career, far and way the most effective left-back in La Liga this season.

Last summer world club champions Barcelona wanted to sign Filipe Luis but were kept away by Deportivo's high asking price. Real Madrid were considering a bid for him this coming summer.