Spain and Barcelona defender Carles Puyol will go under the knife on Wednesday for a knee operation after an injury-ravaged season, the club said today on their website.
Puyol had to miss the UEFA Champions League last-16 return match against Arsenal in early March and only returned in mid-April to face Real Madrid only to suffer further injury.
He did feature against Real in the Champions League semi-finals but started the final win over Manchester United on the bench and played just the final three minutes.
The 33-year-old club stalwart, three times a Champions League winner, will have the operation at the Quiron clinic in the Catalan city.