MADRID: Real Madrid's Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain will have to undergo an operation on his slipped disc.

Real have been trying to avoid an operation but the treatment which Higuain followed in Argentina "has not worked,"

The 23-year-old striker has consulted Donato Villani, the doctor of the Argentine national team, who has told him he would need surgery immediately, the report said.

Higuain, who has not played for a month, will return to Madrid on January 3 and the Real doctors will decide where and when the operation will take place. He will then be out of action for around three months.

Because of Higuain's injury, Real coach Jose Mourinho has asked Real to sign a new striker in the winter transfer window.

But club president Florentino Perez would prefer Mourinho to get by with the current squad, giving more match time to French forward Karim Benzema and youngster Alvaro Morata, reports say.

Real are second in La Liga, two points behind leaders Barcelona.

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