Atletico Madrid may bring in a new backup goalkeeper before the summer transfer window shuts, after No. 2 Miguel Angel Moya underwent a knee operation.
Ex-Getafe keeper Moya, regular understudy to undisputed Atletico No. 1 Jan Oblak, suffered a knee injury in training this week and is likely to miss at least two months of the new season as he recovers.
This leaves Colchoneros coach Diego Simeone with just homegrown youth teamer Bernabe Barragan, 22, and summer signing Axel Werner, 20, who is to join up soon after exiting this summer's Olympic football tournament early with Argentina.
AS reported that the club are to weigh up the situation and decide in the next few days if another goalkeeper is needed.
A club statement confirmed that Moya's procedure had been carried out successfully.
A @M_A_Moya se le ha realizado una artroscopia en su rodilla derecha; la evolución de la articulación es favorable https://t.co/2bG3Ty6N9H
- Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) August 11, 2016
"Miguel Angel Moya has been undergone this morning a diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopy in the Fremap clinic of Majadahonda," it said.
"The surgical team made up by doctors Jose Maria Abad, Gloria Lopez, Jose Luis Gutierrez and Rogelio Rosado have performed a meniscal suture in the posterior horn of the external meniscus and cleaned up minor damages to the joint.
"The overall evaluation of the joint after the intervention is favourable. The keeper from Baleares noticed his right knee was locked during Wednesday's training."