Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o will be sidelined for up to five months after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, the Primera Liga club said yesterday.

With the player's agreement, the damaged meniscus was repaired rather than removed, which extended the time needed for a recovery, Barca doctor Ramon Cugat told Spanish media.

Originally doctors had thought Eto'o would be out for two to three months.

The Cameroon international suffered the injury during Wednesday's 1-1 draw away to Werder Bremen in the Champions League.

Eto'o asked to be substituted in the 65th minute after pulling up on the pitch, and was carried off on a stretcher.

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