Cassio and the club received the bad news this afternoon after MRI scans revealed the extent of the damage, the Brazilian set to see a surgeon tomorrow to know if he will require a full knee reconstruction.

The injury occurred in the first half of United’s trial match against MetroStars last night, Cassio stretchered off after his leg seemed to buckle as he went to move.

The injury is a recurrence for Cassio, who suffered exactly the same injury back in Brazil in 2003, the situation similar to that of former Adelaide Crows Australian Rules footballer Shaun Rehn, who underwent two knee reconstructions on the same knee.

“It is feeling sore, my knee is swollen but this is life and sometimes this happens,” Cassio said.

“I now feel very bad. I think this is the worst moment of my career, this is hard but I will try my best to come back. I want to play these next two games but it just impossible so I will see the surgeon tomorrow and I will aim to be back playing soon.”

Cassio will miss the last two AFC Champions League 2008 matches, he will also miss the 2008 Pre-Season Cup and is likely to be out for the entire Hyundai A-League 2008/09 Season.

The setback is a cruel blow to The Reds’ ambitions of reaching the second round of the AFC Champions League 2008, the club with two crucial matches in the last two match days of the Group Stage.

Adelaide United Coach Aurelio Vidmar was short of words in trying to explain how much The Reds’ 2007/08 Club Champions and Player’s Player will be missed for the remainder of the AFC Champions League campaign.

“It’s a massive loss for us. We’re just gutted and he is going to be extremely hard to replace,” Vidmar said.

In another setback for Adelaide United, marquee striker Paul Agostino has been diagnosed with a minor case of chicken pox, which will more than likely put him out of Wednesday’s crucial match against Korean champions the Pohang Steelers. However, Agostino should be available for The Reds’ final match in China on May 21.