Xavi out of Spain squad to play Uruguay
Reuters - Monday 04 February 2013, 07:30
Barcelona were dealt a blow on Monday when tests showed Xavi had damaged
a hamstring and would be out for around two weeks, although he should
be back for the Champions League last 16 first leg at AC Milan on February
20.
The 33-year-old playmaker
had withdrawn from the Spain squad to play Uruguay in a friendly in
Doha on Wednesday, depriving him of a chance to earn his 120th cap, the
Spanish football federation (RFEF) said earlier on Monday.
Xavi played most of Barca's 1-1 La Liga draw at Valencia on Sunday before being replaced by Thiago Alcantara in added time.
"After
tests this morning revealed a tear in his left hamstring Xavi will be
out for the next 15 days and will miss Barca's next two [La Liga] games
against Getafe and Granada," Barcelona said in a statement on their
website.
"If his recovery goes as planned, he'll be back for the Champions League game against Milan," the statement added.
Spain,
the world and European champions, had already lost Real Madrid
midfielder Xabi Alonso because of a groin injury sustained in Saturday's
1-0 defeat at Granada.
Alonso
was replaced in the squad by Atletico Madrid's Mario Suarez, a
25-year-old former youth international who has been called up to the
senior squad for the first time.
Coach
Vicente del Bosque did not bring in anyone to replace Xavi and his
position will likely be filled by Andres Iniesta or Cesc Fabregas, his
Barca team-mates.
Barca said
in a separate statement that midfielder Alex Song had felt "a twinge in
his left knee" and would not be joining up with Cameroon for their
friendly against Tanzania.