Barcelona without Vermaelen for up to five months
Thursday, November 27, 2014
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Thomas Vermaelen, who is yet to play for FC Barcelona having joined in the summer, will be out of action for another four to five months due to surgery on a hamstring problem.
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FC Barcelona centre-back Thomas Vermaelen will be out of action until towards the end of the season due to forthcoming surgery on a hamstring problem.
The Belgium defender, who joined Barcelona on a five-year deal from Arsenal FC in the summer, is yet to play a competitive game for the Catalan club because of the complaint. He sustained it during his country's 1-0 victory over Russia at the FIFA World Cup in June.
"Thomas Vermaelen will undergo surgery on the injured semitendinosus muscle in his right leg," read a Barça statement. "The procedure will be carried out by Dr Sakari Orava next Tuesday in Finland."
The 29-year-old will need between four and five months to recover, leaving the Blaugrana without him for at least the UEFA Champions League round of 16, which runs from 17 February until 18 March. Belgium resume their UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying campaign at home to Cyprus on 28 March.
