Manchester City right-back Pablo Zabaleta has been ruled out of taking part in the Copa America with Argentina and is a serious doubt for the start of the 2016/17 campaign after being forced to undergo ankle surgery. 

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Zabaleta to go Under the Knife

Saturday, May 14

As James Robson of Manchester Evening News revealed, Zabaleta will go under the knife in due course, with no official date on his return to fitness.

The 31-year-old’s 2015/16 campaign was rocked by injury, which led to speculation about his future at the Etihad Stadium. However, Robson wrote that a move away from Manchester won’t be sorted until Zabaleta is back at full strength.

Zabaleta’s time on the pitch has been at a premium this season, making just 13 Premier League appearances, according to WhoScored.com.

Bacary Sagna stepped in to cover for the Argentinian after his first setback of the campaign, but the Frenchman’s form ensured Zabaleta couldn’t force his way into Manuel Pellegrini’s plans.

However, Pep Guardiola will take over at the Etihad on July 1, and the current Bayern Munich boss may well see Zabaleta as his first-choice right-back going forward.

If he doesn’t, the door could be open for Zabaleta to leave the club.

It seems Guardiola will have his work cut out when he arrives either way, though, as Vincent Kompany will also be on the treatment table after undergoing thigh surgery.

Still, he’s been promised the funds by the Manchester City powers-that-be to build a side he thinks is capable of winning the UEFA Champions League, and Robson wrote that he’s identified centre-backs Aymeric Laporte and John Stones as targets.

Zabaleta has been a stalwart of the Manchester City back line since his arrival in 2008, and there’s no doubt that he can still cut it at the highest level.

If Guardiola thinks that, City fans will be eager to see their full-back return to action.