BARCELONA: Barcelona football coach Tito Vilanova (pictured) is to have surgery today followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy over the next six weeks, the La Liga leaders said in a statement yesterday.
“While monitoring his parotid gland a change has been detected in his condition that requires surgery,” Barca said of their coach, who stepped up to replace Pep Guardiola at the end of last season.
Vilanova had surgery to remove a tumour in his saliva glands in November last year.
No news was given on who might stand in on an interim basis with the side still to play Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday before the two-week mid-season break.
Local media speculation has centered on his assistant Jordi Roura or even the return of the out-of-work Guardiola.
“His time in hospital will be about three to four days,” Barca said. “During the period after his operation, depending on how he recovers, an attempt will be made to balance his treatment with his working life.”
In the meantime, arch rivals Real Madrid said they wished Vilanova a swift recovery.
“Real Madrid wishes to express all its support, love and affection for Barcelona’s coach Tito Vilanova, to whom it wishes a quick recovery,” the club said in a statement. “Real Madrid extends this support to his club and all his family.”
Vilanova, 44, has been Barca manager since the departure of Pep Guardiola in April this year.
He underwent an operation to remove a tumour on his parotid gland -- the largest of the salivary glands -- on November 22, 2011 and was back at work as Guardiola’s deputy just 15 days later.
Reports of Vilanova’s relapse emerged on the same day that a Catalan radio station and Mundo Deportivo said doctors had given the all-clear for Barcelona defender Eric Abidal to play again after undergoing a liver transplant on April 10.
The operation was conducted more than a year after a tumour was removed from his liver.
Vilanova has led Barcelona to the most successful start to a season in La Liga’s history, with 15 wins and one draw in 16 matches so far.
They rule supreme over Spain’s clubs, nine points ahead of runners-up Atletico Madrid and 13 ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid.
AFP
