Barcelona‘s Rafinha will be out of action for around six months after a “successful” operation on his ruptured knee ligaments, the club have announced.

Rafinha suffered the injury in Barca’s La Liga draw with Atletico Madrid last month, in which he was a substitute for fellow injury victim Sergi Roberto.

He completed the match but did not feature in subsequent games against PSV Eindhoven or Villarreal.

A statement on the club’s website read: “First-team player Rafinha has had the ligaments of his left knee successfully operated on.

“The intervention was carried out by Dr. Ramon Cugat under the supervision of the medical services of the club, and he will be out of action for approximately six months.”

Rafinha has a history of knee injuries, having suffered a torn ACL and a meniscus in his right knee in the past three years.