Manchester City star undergoes surgery on long-term problem confirms Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on a long-standing problem, ruling him out for a lengthy period.

The Croatian has been battling recurring issues since the early weeks of the summer, with discomfort around his foot and ankle halting his progress. Despite several attempts to manage the situation, Kovacic has been unable to shake the problem fully, forcing him into multiple medical consultations and now another operation.

Since joining City from Chelsea in 2023, injuries have somewhat prevented Kovacic from enjoying a consistent run of form, even though Guardiola has spoken highly of his performances. His setbacks have also disrupted City’s midfield rotation, particularly at a time when the club is attempting to reshape and balance its engine room for the long term.

With a demanding season ongoing across the Premier League and Europe, Kovacic’s absence leaves Guardiola without an important senior figure – one known for composure in possession and tactical intelligence. It may also accelerate opportunities for younger players and new arrivals to stake their claim in the months ahead.

Speaking to reporters during a recent press conference, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on Mateo Kovacic’s fitness and the situation of the Croatia international, who has been sidelined once more with a similar problem to the one that required surgery early in the summer.

“Yeah he had another one [surgery]. He has calcification again in his foot, ankle. And it was so disturbing for him,” Guardiola told reporters.

The Manchester City manager continued, “He made an incredible effort, was unbelievable with the pain, he played a few minutes before the surgery and the training sessions. We were seeing how he suffered but we wanted to continue.

“At the end, arriving at a moment where he could not continue in the best. It’s [about] cleaning it, and coming back. If you take more time, it’s fine. But to play football you have to, at that age, always have niggles, pain, it’s normal.

“But not the limitation that he had before that surgery, and hopefully he can recover well.”

Pep Guardiola’s comments underline both the severity and the frustration surrounding Mateo Kovacic’s long-term issue, which has clearly taken a toll on the midfielder’s ability to perform at his usual level.

Should the recovery timeline extend well into the new year as is expected, Manchester City may need to evaluate their midfield depth, especially with the January transfer window approaching.

In the meantime, Kovacic’s road back to full fitness will be carefully managed, with Manchester City prioritising a complete recovery to prevent further setbacks – as has been seen with Rodri.

If successful, the Croatian could still play a meaningful part in the latter stages of the season, particularly as the club targets success on multiple fronts, and his return would also arrive at a crucial time for his national team ahead of the FIFA World Cup.