RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian soccer star Julio Baptista returned to his native country in order to undergo a knee surgery on Tuesday.

Baptista for Spain's Malaga CF was injured in team practice on February 17.

Baptista returned to Brazil in order to receive the necessary corrective surgery on his ruptured internal meniscus.

The doctor Rene Abdalla said that Baptista will be sidelined for two to three months. The player is expected to receive his initial physical therapy in Brazil alongside family before returning to Andalusia, Spain.