Barcelona have confirmed that Dutch winger Ibrahim Afellay will undergo an operation this week on his problematic thigh injury.
The 27-year-old has struggled with injury since joining the Catalans in December 2010, suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2011 and then a number of muscle injuries after.
Last year’s loan switch to Schalke proved unsuccessful in part down to continued fitness issues and so far this summer the player has been training separately in a bid to recover from a recurring thigh problem in his right leg.
Barca have today confirmed that part of that recovery now must include surgery on the injury and that it is scheduled for this Thursday at Barcelona hospital.
The club will issue a medical report after the procedure, but it throws into doubt Afellay’s chances of completing a loan move out of the Camp Nou this summer transfer window.