Gaetano Berardi has taken to social media to issue an injury update to Leeds United supporters.
Berardi could miss up to ninth months of action after suffering a knee injury against Derby County.
The Whites' defender was stretchered off at Pride Park after half-an-hour during United's 3-1 win over the Rams.
A club statement from the club a day after the injury read: "Leeds United defender Gaetano Berardi suffered an ACL tear in his knee during Sunday’s Sky Bet Championship fixture with Derby County.
"Berardi, who was replaced in the 33rd minute of the match at Pride Park, had scans today which confirmed the injury.
"The defender who has made 25 appearances for the Whites during the campaign, in which Leeds United won the Championship, now faces up to nine months on the side-lines.
"We wish Gaetano a speedy recovery."
And now the 31-year-old has taken to Instagram to post a picture of himself in a Barcelona hospital following his surgery, with the caption:“New Knee”.
Berardi's current contract at Leeds runs out in the coming weeks and unless he signs an extension at Elland Road, he will have played his last game for the club.
But Leeds chief Andrea Radrizzani was quick to pay tribute to the 31-year-old at the start of the club's end-of-season awards ceremony on Thursday evening, promising to stand by him.
He said: "As you know, Gaetano has been here for six years.
"Last week he got a bad injury so we don't know what's going on in his life, but we've prepared something to remind him he's Leeds, he's one of us whatever decision he will take.
"He knows he can count on me and I think you as well. Gaetano, thank you for your commitment."
A highlight reel of Berardi's best moments was then shown to the room of players and staff in Elland Road's Centenary Pavilion and included a glowing reference from United old boy Tony Dorigo, who said: "When Berardi plays we don't concede goals and we win games."
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