Mateo Kovacic issues nine-word statement following surgery setback and Manchester City absence | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic has spoken for the first time on social media since the club confirmed the midfielder had undergone surgery on an Achilles injury.

A statement issued by the club on Monday morning confirmed that the Croatia international would be absent from the club’s upcoming FIFA Club World Cup campaign, with the understanding from the side of his national team being a three-month absence.

“Manchester City can confirm that Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on an Achilles injury,” a statement issued from the Etihad Stadium read this week.

“The Croatian midfielder is now set to miss the FIFA Club World Cup as City head to the USA in June,” Manchester City added. “Mateo will spend the summer rehabilitating from the operation and everyone at the Club wishes him a speedy recovery.”

Speaking earlier on during the ongoing international break, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić told a press conference on Kovacic, “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. The Club decided he must undergo surgery. The recovery is expected to take about three months.”

Now, having undergone surgery and made his first strides into a rehabilitation process alongside instruction from Manchester City, Mateo Kovacic has addressed supporters of both his club and country on Instagram.

Accompanying a photo of himself emerging following surgery around an Achilles problem in his left foot, Kovacic wrote on social media, “Surgery went well. Now patience, hard work, and faith.”

Instagram: mateokovacic8

Manchester City are expecting to welcome midfield reinforcements in time for the start of the FIFA Club World Cup and the close of the mini-summer transfer window introduced to allow teams to make signings ahead of the tournament.

Operating in a similar role to Kovacic, there is confidence within the Etihad Stadium that Tijjani Reijnders will arrive on a long-term contract from AC Milan, while the club are continuing in their pursuit of Lyon’s Rayan Cherki.

The latter is viewed as a direct replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, after Manchester City bosses took the difficult decision of not renewing the Belgian’s expiring contract, as such paving the way for him to complete a free transfer move to Serie A Champions Napoli in the coming days.