Spain defender Carles Puyol could miss Euro 2012 after his club Barcelona said on Tuesday he has a knee injury that requires arthroscopic surgery and will be out for around six weeks.
“After tests were conducted it was decided the player would have arthroscopic surgery next Saturday, May 12,” Barca said in a statement on its website. “The estimated time he will be out of action is around six weeks.”
“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 defense 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 defense at Euro 2012.
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