Real Madrid have confirmed Wesley Sneijder will be out of action for around three months after he damaged knee ligaments on Sunday.The Holland international sustained the injury following a heavy challenge from Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby in the 60th minute of the Emirates Cup clash.

He was carried off the field on a stretcher and is not expected to return to action until mid-November.

A statement on Real Madrid's website confirmed the nature of the injury.

It read: "Following the scan carried out today by the Real Madrid medical staff on the player Wesley Sneijder, it can be confirmed said player has suffered an injury of the internal lateral ligaments (knee) and damaged part of the anterior cruciate ligaments.

"With the orthopaedic treatment and rehabilitation work required it is estimated that the player will be out of action for approximately three months."

Despite the long lay-off the news will be welcomed by the Madrid coaching staff, whose initial fears were that Sneijder had torn the ligaments, an injury which would have needed around six to eight months recovery time.

Sneijder made 30 appearances in La Liga for Real last season, scoring nine goals following his 27 million euro move from Ajax.

The club moved to fill the void left by Sneijder's absence by signing his international team-mate Rafael van der Vaart from Hamburg.

The transfer, announced by the German club, sees van der Vaart move to the Bernabeu for an undisclosed fee.

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