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Barcelona, Nov 28 FC Barcelona said that their 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 Belgian defender, who signed a five-year deal from Arsenal in the summer, is yet to play a competitive game for the Catalan club because of the problem. He sustained it in the 1-0 victory against Russia at the FIFA World Cup in June, reports Xinhua.
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"Thomas Vermaelen will undergo surgery on the injured muscle in his right leg. The procedure will be carried out by Sakari Orava next Tuesday in Finland," a club statement read Thursday.
The 29-year-old will need around four to five months to recover, meaning Barcelona will be without him for at least the UEFA Champions League round of 16, which runs from Feb 17 to March 18.
