'Man City’s Defensive Pillar Suffers Broken Leg, Pep Faces Crisis

A crucial defensive player for Man City has sustained a broken leg and will be out of action for a long time.

Man City has confirmed that Josko Gvardiol suffered a broken leg and will undergo surgery this week. The Croatian center-back was injured and had to leave the pitch during the second half of the 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in the 20th round of the Premier League.

According to the club’s statement, medical examinations after the match revealed that Gvardiol has a fracture in his right shinbone and requires surgery. There is no specific timeline for his return yet, but the 23-year-old is expected to be out for several months.

In an official statement, Man City said Gvardiol sustained a fractured shinbone. The defender is scheduled for surgery next weekend, while assessments continue to determine the severity and recovery prospects.

Gvardiol’s injury delivers a severe blow to Pep Guardiola, significantly impacting the effort to keep pace with Arsenal in the Premier League standings.

Previously, Man City was without John Stones, who has only played one domestic league match since August. Additionally, Ruben Dias faced fitness issues in the game against Chelsea. Currently, the Etihad squad has just two true center-backs available — Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov — both of whom have seen limited playing time this season.

Given the current situation, Man City has recalled 20-year-old center-back Max Alleyne from his loan at Watford, but the club is likely to accelerate plans to sign a new center-back immediately rather than waiting until summer.

Guehi’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he was previously viewed as a free-agent target for Man City. However, if the Etihad club decides to enter the transfer market early, he could be prioritized for acquisition this month.