Real's Pepe undergoes surgery on his ankle

Real Madrid defender Pepe had surgery on his right ankle at a clinic in Portugal on Wednesday, the club said, without giving a timeframe for his recovery.

"Pepe, after showing discomfort in his right ankle and after a medical check, was operated on this morning in Oporto... at the Espregueira Mendes Clinic. The player had an arthroscopy of the ankle," Real Madrid said in a statement online.

Spanish sports daily Marca said Pepe would be sidelined for about a month but he was already set to miss the game against Real Sociedad in the Bernabeu stadium this Sunday because of suspension.

The Portuguese international had been suffering from pain in his ankle since mid-December, it said.

An arthroscopy involves making a small incision and inserting a thin tube-like instrument -- an athroscope -- to inspect and if necessary repair problems such as torn cartilage.