Higuain has been absent since November with a herniated disc and it was decided yesterday, after consulting with several experts, that he would go under the knife.

The operation will be performed by Dr Richard G Fessler at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, United States.

It is not known how long Higuain will be absent for but Madrid coach Jose Mourinho admitted today he does not expect to have the Argentina international available again until near the end of the season.