Barcelona striker David Villa, who underwent surgery on a fractured left tibia on Monday, was released from hospital on Saturday, his club confirmed in a statement.
The 30-year-old will therefore be able to spend Christmas at home with his family, having suffered the injury during Barcelona's 4-0 win over Qatari club Al Sadd in the Club World Cup semi-final in Japan on December 15.
Villa is expected to be out for four to five months, leaving his chances of playing for Barcelona again this season, or of featuring for Spain at Euro 2012, in serious doubt.
"My aim is to play in the (Champions League) final in Munich and at Euro 2012. I want to work hard to make it," he said on Twitter after the injury, displaying his desire to complete a swift recovery.
After the operation, his doctor Ramon Cugat admitted that Villa faces a race against a time to be fit but said that "the possibility exists because he is so hopeful and his state of mind is important".
As well as being without Villa, Barcelona must also do without Andres Iniesta for the next couple of weeks after he suffered a leg-muscle injury in the 9-0 Copa del Rey win against Hospitalet on Thursday.
However, Barcelona's next game is not until January 4, when Osasuna visit the Camp Nou in the Copa del Rey last 16, first leg.
Source: AFP
