MADRID, May 30 -- FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol will have an operation to clear a problem he has been suffering with his left knee, the club confirmed on Monday.
Puyol missed over two months of the second half of the season because of problems in his knee, but recovered to play a significant role in the last month of the campaign.
However, a return of the problems saw him start Saturday's Champions League final against Manchester United on the subs bench, although he did play the closing minutes of the game which his side won 3-1 to claim their third European crown in five seasons.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque had already decided to leave Puyol out of the squad for the friendly matches Spain play against the United States and Venezuela at the start of June, so the news will not lead to any changes to the Spanish national squad.
Puyol should have no problems recovering in plenty of time to be able to begin pre-season training with the rest of his companions. The majority of the Barca squad began their summer holidays this Monday and the La Liga and Champions League winners do not return to work until July 18.
It will be an busy start to the season for the Catalans who will have Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercup on 14 and 17th of August, before playing the final of the European Supercup against Europa League winners, Porto, at the end of the same month.