Barcelona striker David Villa has returned to Spain after suffering his broken leg injury in Japan.

Spain's all-time record scorer is expected to be sidelined for between four and five months after being carried off on a stretcher in the first half with a fracture to his left tibia.

A Barca statement issued on Friday read: "David Villa has landed on Friday afternoon in Barcelona via Frankfurt, after the fracture of the tibia in his left leg that he suffered during the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.

"The player arrived in Barcelona in good condition and the transfer has been developed without any incident. In the next few hours a decision will be made over pre-operative tests and the date and time of surgery."