Exclusive: Man City stars could agree new contract clauses after FIFA reveal

Manchester City players could start inserting clauses into their contracts that cap the number of games they play due to the ever-increasing fixture list, sources have told Football Insider.

The Premier League champions have been plagued by injuries in recent weeks, having been without five first-team stars for their Champions League game against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

Several key players are also still working their way back to fitness, with Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake all starting on the bench in the 4-1 defeat in the Portuguese capital.

Speaking about Man City’s injuries after their Carabao Cup defeat against Tottenham on 30 October, Pep Guardiola admitted his side are in “trouble” as they haven’t been in this situation before during his eight-year spell at the Etihad.

Although they only sit two points behind Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, their squad is currently stretched to the limit as the games continue to come thick and fast.

The new league phase of the Champions League means there are two extra group stage games this season, while Man City will also compete in the revamped Club World Cup next summer.

Sources have told Football Insider their star players could soon start looking to include clauses in their contracts limiting their number of games each season due to the risk of injury or burnout.

Those measures would, however, likely require a pay cut to be taken.

Man City stars could take more responsibility for their contracts

The Club World Cup is set to take place in the US from 15 June to 13 July, leaving little time for players to recuperate before the start of next season.

FIFA announced the regulations for the tournament on Tuesday (5 November), stating the 32 participating clubs must field their strongest teams throughout the tournament.

There will also be a fine of £445,000 for any club that decides to pull out of the Club World Cup.

Rodri, who was recently named the Ballon d’Or, is unlikely to feature for Man City in the tournament after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Arsenal in September.

Just days before the Spain international picked up the injury, he suggested players will have no option other than to strike if the number of matches continues to increase.

Sources have told Football Insider players at clubs such as Man City could now look to take more responsibility with their contracts due to the growing fixture list.

That could force the elite sides to sign more players and carry bigger squads as they aim to compete for several honours each year.

Guardiola’s side played 59 games in 2023-24, while that figure could rise to 69 matches this season if they make it through to the Club World Cup final next summer.

In other news, Man City working on deal to sign Kyle Walker replacement.

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The post Exclusive: Man City stars could agree new contract clauses after FIFA reveal appeared first on Football Insider.