Heartbreak for Manchester City ahead of Club World Cup as star player suffers injury

Manchester City have been dealt a major blow ahead of the Club World Cup, with midfielder Mateo Kovacic ruled out for around three months after undergoing Achilles tendon surgery.

The Croatian international will miss the entire summer preseason and be unavailable for the Club World Cup — a competition City aims to win as part of its global dominance strategy.

The injury also sidelines him from any national team duties in the coming months.

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic confirmed the news, later supported by an official statement from Manchester City.

Kovacic, who joined City from Chelsea in June 2023 in a €30 million deal, made 42 appearances for the club this season, scoring seven goals.

Since his arrival at the Etihad, he has featured 88 times across all competitions, quickly establishing himself as a dependable midfield presence under Pep Guardiola.

Kovacic’s absence creates a big gap in City’s midfield depth, potentially opening the door for younger players to step up during preseason, or forcing the club to explore options in the transfer market.

The club has not specified a return date, but the timeline suggests Kovacic will be targeting a comeback early in the 2025 season.