Former Barcelona winger Carles Perez has been hospitalised after suffering a dog bite to his genitals in a freak accident. The 27-year-old, who now plays for Aris Thessaloniki on loan from Celta Vigo, required six stitches and may need surgery, though his condition is not serious.
The incident occurred while Perez was walking his own dog and attempted to separate the animals. He was treated at a private hospital in Panorama, a suburb of Thessaloniki, and remains under observation. The attacker will miss Aris's Conference League qualifier against Araz-Naxçıvan PFK, with manager Marinos Ouzounidis confirming Perez would have started the match.
Ouzounidis said: "Carles would have been in the starting line-up. This incident happened but we can't dwell on it any longer. My mind is working on alternative solutions."
Perez, a Spain youth international, spent eight years at Barcelona, making 13 senior appearances before moving to Roma, then Celta Vigo, and later Getafe. He joined Aris this summer in a loan deal with an option to buy, seeking to revive his career after struggling for game time.
He previously expressed frustration with his departure from Barcelona, telling Marca in 2020: "I didn't understand my exit, but I respect the decision. People talk about the academy, but sometimes they prefer to spend millions and don't have patience with young players."
Perez had played just once for Aris prior to the injury, featuring in the first leg of the Conference League tie. No timeframe has been set for his return.
