Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that defender Aymeric Laporte has been ruled out of action until the month of September, as he continues his recovery from a knee surgery.
The Spain international will miss this weekend’s FA Community Shield against Merseyside outfit Liverpool and Manchester City’s first five Premier League games of the 2022/2023 Season.
Laporte also faces a race against time to be fit for their September 10th clash against Tottenham Hotspurs.
Guardiola praised Laporte for playing through the pain barrier at the end of last season, when Dias, Stones and Kyle Walker all had injuries, and postponing his own operation.
Guardiola revealed: “Laporte is injured. He had knee surgery after last season and played the last two or three games with an important injury. He made an incredible effort. He had surgery. So far he is doing really well but you have to be careful with a knee. I think August he will be out. I think maybe he will start to be with us in September.”
Guardiola further confirmed he intends signing a new left-back, adding “If it is possible, yes. If not, we stay with what we have.”
The Cityzens have tabled a bid for Spanish defender Marc Cucurella, who in turn has submitted a transfer request in a bid to leave Brighton and Hove Albion. Guardiola commented on the situation by saying: “He is a Brighton player, I cannot say anything else.”
The new development concerning Aymeric Laporte means that Guardiola only has five fit senior defenders for the start of the season after Ukrainian international Oleksandr Zinchenko was sold to Arsenal, with Ruben Dias, John Stones and Nathan Ake the three main options at centre-back.
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