Zabaleta to undergo ankle surgery, missing copa america

[CTID Hants]

Latest injury setback rules Zabaleta out of the Copa America and places further doubts over his Manchester City future under Pep Guardiola

Pablo Zabaleta will have to undergo ankle surgery - ruling him out of this summer’s Copa America.

No time frame has been given on an expected return date for the Manchester City defender - but he joins Vincent Kompany in the treatment room ahead of Pep Guardiola’s arrival on July 1.

Zabaleta’s future was already in doubt after a season disrupted by injury.

But any potential move will be put on hold while the 31-year-old recovers

It is understood that he is yet to undergo surgery.

Guardiola is expected to overhaul his defence, with Eliaquim Mangala, Martin Demichelis and Aleks Kolarov all set to leave.

With Kompany also ruled out for the start of next season after undergoing thigh surgery, the new City manager is in desperate need of reinforcements at the back.

Zabaleta was also a potential departure after losing his place to Bacary Sagna this season, with Roma the latest club to be linked.

Guardiola has identified Aymeric Laporte and John Stones as targets in what will be a summer of major spending.

The outgoing Bayern Munich manager has been promised the funds to build a squad capable of returning City to title contention and challenging for the Champions League next season.


Source: MuEN

[zuricity]

If we buy Stones, i'll give Guardiola till December and he will be gone.

[nottsblue]

If we buy Stones, i'll give Guardiola till December and he will be gone.

Assume you mean Stones as there isn't a cat in Hells chance Guardiola will be out by Christmas.

The injury to Zabba might mean we could struggle to offload him in the summer

[freshie]

If we buy Stones, i'll give Guardiola till December and he will be gone.

Stones or Pep?

[Hazy2]

Stones is a prospect, stalled under a manager who was lost, I would take him and Pep will make him a player.

[Moonchesteri]

Stones is an accident waiting to happen and he - not Martinez - is to blame for Loads of dropped points for Everton. Around the time we played them he almost cost them in at least three games in a row. Then he played one game without an obvious mistake and then yet another one and that has nothing to do with Martinez.
Lot of his "highlights" are also some challenges at the very last minute which does look good but the reason he had to make those were because he had fucked up before.

If we sign him I'll get behind him but I would not spend silly money on him. As I've said I'd much rather spend the money on top class forward

[getdressedmctavish]

Stones will develop into a great CB under Pep imo

[Moonchesteri]

Stones will develop into a great CB under Pep imo

Why/how if I may ask?

[john@staustell]

Stones will develop into a great CB under Pep imo

Why/how if I may ask?

His only hope may be a move into midfield, where he cant do so much damage.

[Alioune DVToure]

Assuming that Vinny will be out for large chunks of the foreseeable, and recognising that the defence needs level-headed leadership, organisation and PL experience, signing Ashley Williams would be an absolute no-brainer.

£8-10 million to get him (he's 31 now), relatively modest wages, and a two-year deal with an option of a third. I'm sure he would jump at the chance to come.

We've got enough mavericks at centre-half already without throwing Stones into the mix.

[Moonchesteri]

Assuming that Vinny will be out for large chunks of the foreseeable, and recognising that the defence needs level-headed leadership, organisation and PL experience, signing Ashley Williams would be an absolute no-brainer.

£8-10 million to get him (he's 31 now), relatively modest wages, and a two-year deal with an option of a third. I'm sure he would jump at the chance to come.

We've got enough mavericks at centre-half already without throwing Stones into the mix.

[Mase]

Ashley Williams :') fuck me Bony looked like a world beater at Swansea.

If we're buying someone just to be a 'leader' let's get someone in that's half decent and not on his last legs eh?

[Alioune DVToure]

Ashley Williams :') fuck me Bony looked like a world beater at Swansea.

If we're buying someone just to be a 'leader' let's get someone in that's half decent and not on his last legs eh?

Not on his last legs though, is he? He's played about 145 Premier League games in the past four seasons.

I don't know why you think this is a funny shout; there's more to buying well than buying the players with the highest scores on FIFA and Champ Manager.

The argument that Bony looked good at Swansea and is shit for us also makes little sense in this context; Williams would - in theory - come under less pressure at CB playing for a better side such as we are. He's performed outstandingly for a team which is solidly mid-table.

Use your imagination a bit. We signed Mangala and Otamendi because they were sought-after. Look where that's got us.

[PeterParker]

Keep Zabs

We need guys like him. You know, legends.

[Mase]

Ashley Williams :') fuck me Bony looked like a world beater at Swansea.

If we're buying someone just to be a 'leader' let's get someone in that's half decent and not on his last legs eh?

Not on his last legs though, is he? He's played about 145 Premier League games in the past four seasons.

I don't know why you think this is a funny shout; there's more to buying well than buying the players with the highest scores on FIFA and Champ Manager.

The argument that Bony looked good at Swansea and is shit for us also makes little sense in this context; Williams would - in theory - come under less pressure at CB playing for a better side such as we are. He's performed outstandingly for a team which is solidly mid-table.

Use your imagination a bit. We signed Mangala and Otamendi because they were sought-after. Look where that's got us.

You've not convinced me. And I doubt the people in charge at City will be convinced by that either.

[Alioune DVToure]

Ashley Williams :') fuck me Bony looked like a world beater at Swansea.

If we're buying someone just to be a 'leader' let's get someone in that's half decent and not on his last legs eh?

Not on his last legs though, is he? He's played about 145 Premier League games in the past four seasons.

I don't know why you think this is a funny shout; there's more to buying well than buying the players with the highest scores on FIFA and Champ Manager.

The argument that Bony looked good at Swansea and is shit for us also makes little sense in this context; Williams would - in theory - come under less pressure at CB playing for a better side such as we are. He's performed outstandingly for a team which is solidly mid-table.

Use your imagination a bit. We signed Mangala and Otamendi because they were sought-after. Look where that's got us.

You've not convinced me. And I doubt the people in charge at City will be convinced by that either.

That's absolutely gutting to hear. I thought they hung on my every word.

[Mase]

Ashley Williams :') fuck me Bony looked like a world beater at Swansea.

If we're buying someone just to be a 'leader' let's get someone in that's half decent and not on his last legs eh?

Not on his last legs though, is he? He's played about 145 Premier League games in the past four seasons.

I don't know why you think this is a funny shout; there's more to buying well than buying the players with the highest scores on FIFA and Champ Manager.

The argument that Bony looked good at Swansea and is shit for us also makes little sense in this context; Williams would - in theory - come under less pressure at CB playing for a better side such as we are. He's performed outstandingly for a team which is solidly mid-table.

Use your imagination a bit. We signed Mangala and Otamendi because they were sought-after. Look where that's got us.

You've not convinced me. And I doubt the people in charge at City will be convinced by that either.

That's absolutely gutting to hear. I thought they hung on my every word.

Why would you think that?