Barcelona defender, Thomas Vermaelen has undergone surgery to treat a right leg muscle injury, the Spanish club announced on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old has not featured in a competitive match for the Catalan giants since he signed from Arsenal in a £14m deal in the summer. His only appearance was in a friendly match for Barca’s reserves in September.
The club said in a statement: “Thomas Vermaelen successfully underwent surgery this Wednesday on the semitendinosus muscle in his right hamstring. The operation was performed in Finland by Dr Sakari Orava and the recovery period is estimated at approximately four months.”
Meaning he is not likely to make his long-awaited debut until April.
Vermaelen featured for just 29 minutes at this year’s World Cup before picking up an injury during Belgium clash with Russia and, hence missed out of the ‘Red Devils’s’ quarter-final loss to Argentina. He made 14 appearances for the ‘Gunners’ last season also owing to injury.
