Kovacic missed FA Cup final due to injury; player set to miss Club World Cup starting on 15 June
Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on an Achilles injury and will be sidelined for approximately three months, ruling him out of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
The Croatian international had been carrying the issue for some time, with Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic confirming that Kovacic had attempted to manage the problem through rest following the FA Cup final. However, the pain and swelling around his heel tendon worsened, prompting City’s medical staff to recommend surgery.
“Manchester City can confirm that Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on an Achilles injury,” the club said in a statement. “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.”
Dalic added: “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.”
The 31-year-old Kovacic joined City from Chelsea in 2023 for £25 million and endured a challenging period adapting to the club in his first few months at the Etihad. However, his performances improved steadily across the 2024-25 campaign and he was the main man to replace Rodri following the Ballon d’Or winner’s season-ending injury. Kovacic stepped up in key fixtures, becoming an important part of Pep Guardiola’s midfield rotation.
City are expected to welcome back Rodri for the Club World Cup later this month, a major boost as Guardiola prepares his squad for the international club competition. The club are also reportedly closing in on the signing of AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who would add further depth and competition in central areas.
