Man City's pre-season plans dented as key midfielder to miss Club World Cup after being ruled out for three months following surgery

Kovacic had a difficult start to his Manchester City career following his £25 million ($33.8m) transfer from Chelsea in 2023. However, over the last season and a half, he has slowly grown into Guardiola's side, and after Rodri's season-ending injury this season, he played a major role for the eight-time Premier League champions despite their trophyless season.

City are set to travel to the United States later this month for the Club World Cup, however, Guardiola will not have the services of Kovacic available for the tournament, as the Croatian has undergone surgery after suffering an injury to his Achilles tendon. The club said in a statement: "Manchester City can confirm that Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on an Achilles injury. The Croatian midfielder is now set to miss the FIFA Club World Cup as City head to the USA in June. Mateo will spend the summer rehabilitating from the operation and everyone at the Club wishes him a speedy recovery."

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Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic has now confirmed that the 31-year-old has been suffering from the injury since before the FA Cup final, and revealed that Kovacic's recovery will take around three months. Speaking to the media, Dalic said: "He had an injury and missed the [FA] Cup final. He thought rest would help, but it didn't. Pain and swelling appeared, concerning the heel tendon. Manchester City decided he must undergo surgery. The recovery is expected to take about three months…"

Guardiola's side are expected to welcome the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri back into the squad for the Club World Cup, and additionally, the club are also working on a deal to sign AC Milan's Tijjani Reinders before the start of the tournament. Kovacic's future may be uncertain at the Etihad if more players are signed in the middle of the field this summer.