• Premier League

Negredo sidelined for 'a few months'

ESPN staff
July 21, 2014
Alvaro Negredo says he will come back stronger than ever © Getty Images
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Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo expects to be ruled out for "a few months" after suffering a fractured metatarsal.

Negredo confirmed via his official Instagram account he had suffered a fracture to his fifth metatarsal, an injury sustained during City's pre-season friendly with Hearts.

He wrote: "I want to let you know that it's going to be hard for the next few months, I fractured my 5th metatarsal and will be out a few months. I will be back stronger than ever."

The injury looks likely to end any possibility of a summer move for Negredo, who City were reportedly considering selling in order to make way for the imminent £32 million arrival of Eliaquim Mangala from Porto.

With City being limited next season to 17 non-homegrown players in the Premier League and 16 in the Champions League after breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, the signing of Mangala would push them over the limits and they may be forced to offload both Negredo and Javi Garcia.

Negredo has also reportedly told City that he wants to move back to Spain having joined from Sevilla last summer for around £16m - scoring 23 goals in his debut season in the Premier League - although the player has denied that he is homesick.

It seems unlikely any club would move for him during the summer transfer window now, even if City were prepared to sell, now he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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