Barcelona defender Moussa Wague faces nine months out due to knee injury.
Wague is on loan at Greek side PAOK in his second temporary spell away from Barcelona in two years, after spending last campaign with Nice.
He suffered the injury by inadvertently slamming into the post while trying to make a clearance in a local derby against Aris.
And the Spanish giants have contradicted immediate reports saying he might be forced to retire from football completely.
A Barcelona club statement said: “Moussa Wagué has successfully undergone an operation this Saturday morning to repair and reconstruct patellar ligament in his right knee.
“The operation was performed by Dr Ramon Cugat under supervision of the FC Barcelona medical team.
“The Senegalese footballer has also ruptured posterior cruciate ligaments and has undergone conservative treatment.
“He will be out of action for an estimated nine months, and will remain in Barcelona for the recovery period.”
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