VILLARREAL, SPAIN - Villarreal and Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Wednesday and will require surgery that will sideline him for at least six months.

Rossi, 24, suffered the injury in the 60th minute of a 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid. He underwent tests Thursday that revealed the extent of the injury.

"Our worst fears have been confirmed," Villarreal said on its Web site.

Rossi, who was born in New Jersey, has five goals in all competitions for the struggling Yellow Submarines, who must now turnaround their season without the goal scorer.

Villarreal has just one win through nine matches in La Liga, and has lost all three of its Champions League fixtures.

Rossi could miss the remainder of the season for Villarreal and his status for next summer's Euro 2012 finals with Italy is also in doubt.