MADRID (Reuters) – Spain defender Carles Puyol will probably miss Euro 2012 after he sustained an injury to his right knee that his club Barcelona said requires arthroscopic surgery and will sideline him for around six weeks.
The shaggy-haired centre back damaged the knee in Saturday’s La Liga match at home to Espanyol and will have the operation on May 12, Barca said in a statement on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com) on Tuesday.
“The estimated time he will be out of action is around six weeks,” the statement said, adding that he would be unavailable for the King’s Cup final against Athletic Bilbao on May 25.
The loss of Puyol would be a major blow to the world and European champions, who begin the defence of their continental title against Italy on June 10.
The 34-year-old has been a reliable presence in the Spanish back line for more than a decade and has made 99 appearances for his country, scoring the winning goal in Spain’s 1-0 semi-final victory against Germany at the 2010 World Cup.
His absence would likely mean that Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos partners Puyol’s Barca team mate Gerard Pique in central defence at Euro 2012.