MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid said Monday that Dutch international Wesley Sneijder would be out of action for three months but did not have to undergo surgery after injuring his knee during a match in London.

"Sneijder avoids the surgeon," the Spanish champions said on their website after the player underwent an MRI on his knee.

The 24-year-old suffered damage to the "internal lateral ligament" and will undergo "orthopedic treatment and physiotheraphy" which would keep him off the field for "around three months," the club said.

Sneijder was injured in a heavy tackle by Arsenal's Abou Diaby in an Emirates Cup match on Sunday, which the London club won 1-0.

Coach Bernd Schuster said late Sunday he was "very worried."

"It's really tough. He's in a lot of pain and we predict the worst," he said.

The midfielder was about the start his second season with Real after joining from Ajax last year.

The absence of the key player is a hard blow for the Spanish champions.

But the club have pinned their hopes on another Dutch midfielder, Hamburg's Rafael van der Vaart, who confirmed Monday he has sealed a move to Real.