The inspirational defender suffered ligament damage during the Azzurri's first training session in Austria on Tuesday, and as a result was forced to withdraw from Euro 2008.

Cannavaro has since been replaced by Fiorentina’s Alessandro Gamberini, however the skipper has agreed to stay on in Austria and Switzerland to support the team.

This morning the 34-year-old underwent a successful operation in Vienna, lasting just half an hour.

Azzurri doctor Andrea Ferretti revealed that Cannavaro had sustained: “a complete tear of the anterior peroneal-astrological ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal-calcaneal ligament.”

Cannavaro is expected to be back in action in just a couple of months, so he will be fit and ready in time for the 2008/09 club season with Real Madrid.

The stopper is still in hospital, and he has been visited by members of the Italian Football Federation, including director Gianluigi Riva. When Cannavaro is discharged from hospital he will join up with the rest of the Italy squad to lend his support.