Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov will not feature in the final friendly of the summer tour against Atletico after flying home early. The Uzbek international was granted permission to leave the squad due to a personal issue that required his attention.
Return Expected Shortly
Khusanov is expected back in training shortly, but he was absent from City's open training session on Saturday and the subsequent match on Sunday. In his absence, Vitor Reis partnered Ruben Dias in drills on Saturday and could earn his first start of the tour.
Khusanov's Role and Future
Khusanov was preferred ahead of Reis when both joined the club in the winter transfer window at the beginning of 2025. The signing from Lens stayed at the Etihad last season while Reis went on loan to Girona. No central defender played more minutes than Khusanov in Pep Guardiola's final year in charge.
New coach Enzo Maresca is counting on Khusanov as one of his centre-backs, and his ability to play right-back has influenced City's transfer plans. The club had been looking for a back-up for Matheus Nunes in that role but are likely to leave it now given Khusanov's competency.
Maresca is also expected to keep Reis with the squad this season. Reis can play both positions and has never hidden his ambition to make the first team, with City impressed by his pre-season performances.
Return to Manchester
City will fly home straight after Sunday's match, arriving in Manchester early Monday morning. When they report to the City Football Academy later in the week, they will be joined by the last seven World Cup stars in the squad - or six if Rodri does not report back.
