Achilles op forces Kovacic out of Manchester City's Club World Cup squad and Croatia fixtures
MANCHESTER, June 2 — Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic will miss the FIFA Club World Cup after undergoing surgery to repair an Achilles tendon injury, the Premier League club said on Monday.
The Croatian has been hampered by the injury for a while and sat out last month's 1-0 FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace.
'Mateo will spend the summer rehabilitating from the operation and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery,' the club said in a statement.
The 31-year-old was not included in the squad for Croatia's World Cup qualifiers against Gibraltar on June 6 and the Czech Republic on June 9.
Kovacic scored seven goals in 42 appearances for City this past season across all competitions.
City kick off their Club World Cup campaign in the United States on June 18 against Wydad AC. — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Middlesbrough part ways with manager Carrick
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Championship - Coventry City v Middlesbrough - Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry, Britain - May 3, 2025 Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick before the match Action Images/John Sibley/File Photo (Reuters) - Middlesbrough have sacked head coach Michael Carrick, the second-tier Championship club said on Wednesday after a disappointing season in which they missed out on a spot in the promotion playoffs. Former Manchester United and England player Carrick took charge of Middlesbrough in 2022 and guided them to a fourth-placed finish and the playoffs in his first season, but the club have finished 8th and 10th in their past two campaigns. "Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick. Michael's assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick have also departed the club," the club said in a statement. Carrick made more than 700 club appearances in his career and won five Premier League titles and the Champions League at United under Alex Ferguson. His first stint in management came during an interim spell at United following the sacking of Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021. (Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Man City set to sign Dutch midfielder Reijnders from AC Milan
AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders was named the Serie A's best midfielder, despite Milan finishing 8th in the league. (AP pic) MANCHESTER : Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from Serie A side AC Milan on a five-year contract worth €55 million, a team source confirmed today. The 26-year-old Reijnders joined Milan in 2023 on a five-year contract, which he further extended until 2030 in March. He has made 104 appearances for the club in all competitions, winning one Italian Supercup title. He impressed during the 2024-25 season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions as he was named the Serie A's best midfielder, despite Milan finishing eighth in the league. Reijnders has also made 22 appearances for the Netherlands. His signing will boost Pep Guardiola's options in midfield following Kevin De Bruyne's departure, who will leave after a decade at the club having lifted six Premier League titles, as well as winning the Champions League and Club World Cup in 2023. City finished third in the 2024-25 Premier League season and only secured a Champions League berth on the final day of the campaign. They are next in action at the Club World Cup and face Wydad AC in their opening game on June 18, before taking on Al-Ain and Juventus in their Group G fixtures.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Puma unveils official 2025/26 Premier League season match ball
Puma unveiled the official match ball for the Premier League, set to grace pitches, parks and gardens across the world for players and fans alike ahead of the 2025/26 season. The launch event took place at the Puma Flagship Store in Sunway Pyramid, the brand's largest flagship store in Asia. Guests given a first look at the new Puma Orbita Ultimate PL. 'Football has always been deeply embedded in Puma's DNA, with a legacy that spans decades and connects us to many legendary teams and players. 'Today, Puma is proud to carry that legacy forward as the official match ball provider for the most prestigious football league in the world,' said Steven Tan, Country Manager of Puma Malaysia. The ball has twelve evenly sized panels ensure precise weight distribution, keeping the ball perfectly balanced. The high-frequency moulding guarantees long-lasting durability with enlarged and deeper seams to improve aerodynamics, shape retention, and a soft touch with every kick, no matter the pitch or weather. At the launch, guests were treated to a high-energy freestyle football performance that captured the creativity, emotion, and dynamism the ball represents. A giant replica of the ball will remain on display at the store until June 30. As part of the 'Dare to Shine and Win' campaign running from June 4 to 30, store visitors can also participate in an in-store contest for a chance to win the Puma Orbita Match PL Brilliance ball. To enter, visitors simply need to snap a photo with the Supersize EPL Ball at Puma Sunway Pyramid, post it on their Instagram feed, follow and tag @ Building on the excitement, the launch also introduced the Puma x Premier League 'Have a Ball' campaign – a celebration of the pure joy and exhilaration of having the ball at your feet. The initiative aims to encourage players of all levels to let go of overthinking and self-doubt, inspiring a game fuelled by instinct, freedom, and creativity, on and off the pitch. The ball will make its on-pitch debut in the Premier League Summer Series taking place in the USA this July, and will be on show during the first match round of the Premier League on the 16th August. It is now available at selected Puma stores and retailers nationwide. For more information about Puma and upcoming happenings, follow us on Instagram at @
