RIO DE JANEIRO, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Veteran Cruzeiro goalkeeper Cassio will require surgery after suffering a multi-ligament knee injury, the Brazilian Serie A club said on Friday.

The 38-year-old former Brazil international sustained the injury in the second half of Cruzeiro's 2-0 defeat at Flamengo in Brazil's Serie A on Wednesday.

Cruzeiro said in a statement that Cassio would undergo surgery at a hospital in Belo Horizonte early next week.

"The entire recovery process will take place in Cruzeiro's health and performance department," the club said. "We wish him a speedy recovery."

Cruzeiro did not say how long Cassio would be sidelined, but local media predicted a recovery time of at least six months.

"I'm sad about the injury and about not being able to be on the pitch with my teammates," Cassio, who was capped once for Brazil in 2017, said in a social media post.

"These are situations that are part of our work and I have no doubt that I will come back even stronger from this injury," the former PSV Eindhoven and Corinthians player added. ■