Barcelona striker Luis Suarez defended his decision to undergo the surgery that ruled him out of the Copa del Rey final.

With Suarez sitting in the stands as Valencia defeated Barcelona, with Leo Messi the only recognised attacker in the side.

"The injury that led to surgery has nothing to do with my cartilage but because of a torn meniscus that I suffered in the match against Liverpool, which is why I felt obligated to undergo surgery and miss yesterday's final against my will," he wrote in a statement.

On 9 May, Barcelona released a statement on the matter: "The first team player Luis Suarez has a medial meniscus injury in his right knee and has been operated on by Dr. Cugat, undergoing arthroscopic surgery under the supervision of the Club's medical staff. The Uruguayan will be out for around four to six weeks."