Manchester City today confirmed that goalkeeper Claudio Bravo sustained an Achilles tendon injury in a training session on Monday.
Scans revealed that the Chilean had ruptured a tendon in his left foot and he will fly out to Barcelona on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury which could keep him out for the majority of the season.
It’s a big blow for the Chilean, who has almost two years of his original four year deal left and played in the Community Shield win over Chelsea earlier this month, with the club’s third choice goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw at the young age of 20 yet to make his senior first team bow although he has played in the UEFA Youth League for City and was promoted to the first team squad after signing a new contract this summer.
Prior to Bravo’s injury, City had moved on two goalkeepers with Joe Hart signing for Burnley for £3.5m and Angus Gunn moving to Southampton for £13.5m while highly rated goalkeeper Aro Muric, 19, went on loan to NAC Breda a few weeks ago after joining City’s pre-season tour squad in the absence of Ederson.
City could now be forced into an emergency signing if they cannot recall Muric to make up the numbers with potential replacement third choice youth goalkeeper Curtis Armstrong – a U17 World Cup winner along with Phil Foden – yet to turn 18.
It’s the second major injury blow for City since the end of last season with talismanic midfielder Kevin De Bruyne ruled out for up to three months with a lateral collateral ligament lesion in his right knee.
While De Bruyne was not missed after a bravura performance by City’s replacement midfielders against Huddersfield Town the loss of Bravo leaves precious little cover for first choice goalkeeper Ederson who on Sunday became the first goalkeeper to provide an assist for Manchester City in the Premier League.