Whilst playing against Al Sadd in Yokohama at the 2011 FIFA World Club Cup, David Villa broke his tibia. Doctors initially suggested that he would be out for around 6 months, but he ended up missing the entirety of the 2011-2012 season - including the 2012 European Championships with Spain. Since then, he has never looked quite the player he was prior to the injury and has picked up injuries on a more frequent basis than he used to. He's still a class act, undoubtedly, as even 50% of the pre-2011 David Villa is still top class, but it has affected his game and anyone who suffers such a major injury when they are nearing 30 years of age is going to suffer consequences periodically from thereon-in. It is this particular factor that really makes the transfer somewhat risky. Another major injury for Villa would probably end his career permanently.