Mateo Kovacic snapped with UEFA President as Manchester City await 115 charges verdict
City's first-team squad have been given a much-needed break after a hectic 2024-25 campaign ended with a disappointing Round of 16 exit from the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States at the start of July.
A surprise yet dramatic 4-3 loss to Al-Hilal saw Manchester City side finish a long-drawn campaign on a fitting note, though the ship did seem to have started to turn when the Blues secured a clean sweep of wins in the Club World Cup group-stage, led by their new summer arrivals.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki have all made promising early impressions after arriving in June, with Guardiola's side already a far way out from the injury-riddled squad that succumbed to a third-place Premier League finish last term.
Kovacic was an ever-present for a Rodri-less Manchester City for nearly the entirety of the recent campaign, with the 31-year-old impressing whilst filling in for the Ballon d'Or holder but coming under some inevitable scrutiny for some lacklustre performances.
The Croatia international was largely at fault for Real Madrid's stoppage-time winner in the first leg of Manchester City's Round of 16 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, misjudging an intended backpass to Rico Lewis and thereby handing Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham the perfect ammunition to secure a win for the visitors.
However, it is worth noting that Kovacic has been one of City's best and Guardiola's most reliable players since his arrival from Chelsea in 2023, as he enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career last term, with seven strikes to his name in 42 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City.
Kovacic is more or less certain to stay at the Etihad Stadium into the 2025-26 campaign as newly-appointed director of football Hugo Viana progresses a major squad revamp, which has already seen the departures of Kevin De Bruyne, Scott Carson and Kyle Walker this summer.
City's first-team squad are set to report for training on July 28, which will give Guardiola and co just under three weeks of preparation for their opening-day Premier League visit to Wolves on August 16.
Whilst on holiday in Korcula, Crotia this week, Kovacic was snapped alongside UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric and tennis superstar Novak Djokovic – as the Manchester City midfielder steps up recovery following an Achilles surgery a month ago.
It remains to be seen whether the former Real Madrid man will recover in time for the opening day Premier League clash against Wolves, with Guardiola expected to be cautious with his central midfielders following Rodri's injury complaints at the Club World Cup.
Nico Gonzalez's future has been thrown into doubt in recent weeks but the 23-year-old, who joined Manchester City from Porto in January, is expected to shoulder the defensive midfield responsibility alongside Ilkay Gundogan at the start of the season – as Rodri and Kovacic work to reach full fitness.
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