Malaga forward Julio Baptista is set to be out of action for at least another four months after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon problem today, the Andalusian outfit have confirmed.

The 30-year-old Brazil international, who missed most of last season because of injury, was operated on in a Barcelona hospital this afternoon having this morning undergone a scan.

Malaga announced in a statement that Baptista will remain under observation in hospital for the next 48 hours and will need to keep the injured area immobile for at least two weeks.

The former Real Madrid, Arsenal and Roma player will then face a recovery period of four months, meaning he will miss the start of the new Primera Division season.