Peru defender given cartilage transplant from corpse

Peru international right-back Roberto Guizasola has undergone a knee cartilage transplant from a corpse in a bid to resurrect his injury-hit career.

The unusual procedure follows a series of knee problems that culminated in the rupture of Guizasola's left patellar tendon in a match against Universitario de Deportes last month, reports Xinhua.

The 28-year-old is now recovering at a hospital in Lima after the successful operation by renowned sports surgeon Julio Segura.

"I hope the donor was a decent footballer because maybe it will give me an edge," the Juan Aurich player told El Bocon Wednesday. "The operation went well. My aim is to return in December and start pre-season training with my club.

"I have to look at the positives because it's not easy to be confined to a bed. The good thing is that I have hopefully put an and to an injury that has been affecting me since 2011."

Guizasola has been capped 10 times for Peru since making his international debut in 2008. His older brother, Guillermo, has also represented the national team.