MUNICH : Spain and Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara was ruled out of the World Cup on Thursday after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.
Thiago suffered a recurrence of the ligament tear in his right knee last Monday and will undergo an operation soon, Bayern said on its website.
The club said it's "not possible" for the 23-year-old to play in Saturday's German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund or at the World Cup.
"It's bitter for Thiago. We're sorry for the guy," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "A young lad who's been working on his comeback and on the World Cup in the land of his father, and suddenly both dreams are shot."
Thiago originally suffered the injury in Bayern's 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim on March 29.
The former Barcelona player, who has impressed with his intelligence and technical ability in his first season at Bayern, had been called up to Spain's preliminary 30-player squad for the World Cup by coach Vicente del Bosque despite his initial injury.
Alcantara, the son of former Brazilian international Mazinho, has made five appearances for Spain.
