Real Madrid defender Pepe will be out of action for the next three weeks after tearing the soleus muscle in his left leg.

The Real Madrid website confirmed that the Portuguese international received the injury while playing in the club's friendly match against the LA Galaxy on Saturday night.

Should the club's diagnosis be correct that means Pepe will miss Real Madrid's four remaining friendly matches before the new season kicks off.

The club will face Bayern Munich, Standard Liege, newly promoted Hercules and Uruguayan team, Penarol, before the new BBVA season kicks off on the last weekend of the month.

The injury is bad luck for the defender, who missed most of last season after needing an operation for damaged knee ligaments. He suffered the injury on December 12 and did not play again in the domestic campaign, although he did recover in time to represent Portugal in this summer's World Cup.

Saturday night saw Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho speak about the need for the club to sign another experienced defender and Pepe's injury will almost certainly see the club increase its efforts to sign another defensive player, possibly Inter Milan's Maicon, before the start of the new season.

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