Chilean international midfielder Arturo Vidal will on Thursday begin his race to be fit in time the World Cup after undergoing an operation on his right knee in Barcelona.

Vidal, considered one of his country's key players for the World Cup, travelled to Barcelona on Tuesday to undergo keyhole surgery on his right meniscus.

The operation was carried out Wednesday and deemed a success by the midfielder's Serie A club Juventus.

A statement by the newly-crowned league champions said: "Arturo Vidal this morning underwent a partial lateral meniscectomy operation on his right knee in Barcelona.

"The surgery was carried out by Dr. Ramon Cugat, in the presence of medical staff from Juventus and the Chilean national team.

"The midfielder will be discharged tomorrow and return to Turin for the continuation of his rehabilitation programme."

Vidal is expected to recover in time for the World Cup in Brazil, where Chile are in Group B with Spain, Holland and Australia.

Vidal's recent trouble with his right knee meant he missed the 2-1 defeat to Benfica in the first leg of Juve's Europa League semi-final two weeks ago.

He returned to action for the second leg in Turin, in which Juve failed to score the goal that would have secured them a Europa League final against Sevilla in their own stadium.

Vidal's last league appearance for Juventus this season was during a 3-1 win away to Sassuolo a week ago, when he came off the bench to replace Andrea Pirlo.

Juventus secured the title on Sunday, after Roma crashed 4-1 at Catania, and celebrated at their home stadium on Monday with a 1-0 win over Atalanta, when Vidal was an unused sub.

Vidal has scored 18 goals for Juventus in all competitions this season, 11 of which came in Serie A.