Negredo has emergency operation

Cape Town - Valencia forward Alvaro Negredo has had emergency surgery for acute appendicitis, the La Liga club confirmed.

The former Spain striker, who has been out of favour at his club and has not played since early October, went under the knife at a hospital in the Spanish port city on Monday afternoon.

They did not say whether the surgery was successful or how long the 30-year-old might be sidelined but local media said he would be out for a month.

Reports in Spain have suggested coach Nuno dropped Negredo because he was unhappy with comments the player made about tactics in a newspaper interview but the Portuguese has said the decision was "purely sporting".

Negredo joined Valencia from English Premier League side Manchester City in the close season for a fee of around €30 million but has yet to reproduce the form that earned him 21 Spain caps, with his most recent appearance for his country coming in November 2013.