Buffon was substituted during his team's 1-1 draw with Paraguay in their World Cup opener due to back pain and medical tests revealed he had a herniated disc.

The veteran shotstopper put off going under the knife until the end of Italy's campaign in South Africa in the hope of playing some further part in the tournament, but failed to do so as the Azzurri crashed out at the group stage.

"In late afternoon, Gianluigi Buffon will undergo an operation to cure his herniated disc, at the Casa di Cura La Madonnina in Milan," read a statement on the Juve website.

"The operation, in the presence of Dr. Tencone, will be carried out by professors Maurizio Fornari, head of neurosurgery at the Galeazzi orthopaedic institute in Milan, and Franco Benech, a neurosurgeon who is highly trusted by Juventus and dean at the University of Turin.

"The necessity and the method of the operation, which were planned ahead, were confirmed by a further consultation held this morning.

"Tomorrow there will be an update on how the operation went and the recovery period."

Reports at the time suggested Buffon faced a four-month lay-off, ruling the 32-year-old out until several weeks into the new Serie A season.