Knee op for Puyol

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol will undergo knee surgery tomorrow.

The 33-year-old suffered a left knee problem against Racing Santander on January 22 and has been struggling for fitness ever since.

He returned to action against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on April 15 but was used only sparingly by coach Pep Guardiola in the run-in as the Catalan club completed a Primera Division and Champions League double.

A Barca statement read: “Carles Puyol will be operated on at 1400 on Wednesday, June 1 at the Clinica Quiron to resolve the problems he’s been suffering with his left knee.

“Following the operation, Doctors Ricard Pruna and Ramon Cugat will speak to the media at the Ricard Maxenchs press room at the Camp Nou.”

Puyol appeared for the final three minutes at Wembley on Saturday as Guardiola’s side beat Manchester United 3-1 in the Champions League final.

He handed the captain’s armband to Eric Abidal at the full-time whistle and allowed to Frenchman the honour of lifting the European Cup two months after undergoing surgery to remove a liver tumour.