Argentina's Lavezzi to undergo surgery Friday
Ezequiel Lavezzi will go under the knife Friday to repair the broken elbow he sustained during Argentina's victory over the United States on Tuesday.
The Argentine Football Association confirmed that the forward will undergo surgery in New York at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
Argentina's team doctor, Donato Villani, revealed to ESPN FC that the team is eager to complete the surgery as soon as possible, with hopes Lavezzi will return to fitness ahead of the start of the Chinese Super League, where the 31-year-old plays for Hebei China Fortune.
The player was also keen to have the surgery performed in order to attend Sunday's Copa America Centenario final between Argentina and Chile.
"The idea was that he didn't lose any time," Villani told reporters. "Also, he wanted to be there on Sunday to watch the final (against Chile). He will have surgery tomorrow (Friday) morning and it is not the type of surgery that will require a hospital stay."
Lavezzi, with his arm in a cast, took to Instagram to thank his fans for their well wishes: