Real midfielder Flavio to undergo Achilles surgery

Real Madrid's Brazilian international midfielder Flavio Conceicao will undergo surgery to repair a tear in his right Achilles tendon, club doctors said on Monday.

"Micro-surgery to clean and repair the tear will be carried out," said Real medical chief Alfonso del Corral.

The injury was confirmed last week but the club waited for the results of further tests before deciding whether surgery was necessary.

The injury is believed to have resulted from general wear and tear on his right Achilles.

The operation was being carried out on Monday evening and the recovery period is expected to be some four months.

It is the second lengthy injury-lay off in less than a year for the Brazilian, who was signed for $21.6 million from Deportivo Coruna in August 2000.

The player was sidelined for three months of last season after undergoing an operation on a long-standing groin injury.