Man City star could miss the start of next season in big injury blow | OneFootball

Manchester City have confirmed that midfielder Mateo Kovacic will miss the Club World Cup through injury.

The Croatian star has suffered an Achilles injury and has now undergone surgery.

City say he will not play in the USA this summer and will instead spend that time rehabilitating.

“Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery,” they added.

It is unclear whether the 31-year-old former Real Madrid and Chelsea man will be ready for the start of next season.

Kovacic proved to be an important player under Pep Guardiola this season, playing 42 times in all competitions and scoring seven goals.

31 of those appearances and six of those goals came in the Premier League as City secure third spot and qualification for the Champions League.

City will get their Club World Cup campaign underway on 18 June with a game against Moroccan side Wydad AC.

They then face Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates before taking on Juventus in their final game to determine whether they will advance in the competition.

“As the defending champions coming into this new format, of course we’re very excited,” Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said about the competition.

“We’re very excited to come in as champions. The format, actually, I really like it. This is a very, very serious competition.

“In the summer, the whole world will be watching this. A big number of the top teams in the world will be competing in this tournament and I can assure you, we’re going to give it our best shot.

“We’re going there to win it. This is the beginning of the new season, not the continuation of last season. The team will take the rest that they will take right now, then they start pre-season and then immediately straight into the Club World Cup.”