Real's Pepe to undergo knee surgery in Portugal

Real Madrid defender Pepe will undergo surgery on his right knee on Thursday in Portugal to repair the ligament damage he picked up during a weekend league match, the Spanish club said.

The 26-year-old Brazilian-born Portuguese international tumbled to the ground in the 43rd minute of Real?s 3-2 away victory over Valencia on Saturday after jumping alongside striker David Villa to reach a high ball.

He was stretchered off the pitch and is expected to be sidelined for six months because of the injury, meaning he may not not be able to play for Portugal during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Portugal were drawn into the toughest group of the tournament alongside five-time champion Brazil, North Korea and Ivory Coast, regarded by many as Africa's best team.

The operation will be carried out at a hospital in Oporto, Portugal's second-largest city, Real said in a statement posted on their website.

Pepe has been a regular in Real's starting line-up since he joined the club from Porto in 2007.