Man City player set to miss pre-season tour after call-up for 2024 Olympic Games

Sergio Gomez has been called up to the Spanish Olympics squad for this summer’s games in Paris, meaning he will miss Manchester City’s pre-season tour of America.

The defender, who starred for Spain at the Under-21 European Championships last year, has been named as one of the three overaged players for the Under-23 tournament. Gomez actually misses the cut-off date by just three days, and joins Abel Ruiz and Juan Miranda as the three permitted players born after 1 September 2000.

Ex-City centre-back Eric Garcia has also been named in the 22-man squad, along with Pau Cubarsi. Fermin Lopez and Alex Baena, who are currently with the senior squad at Euro 2024 have also been selected by Santi Denia.

Matches take place between 24 July and 9 August and are spread throughout France. Spain’s last group game - and the earliest possible date Gomez could return - is 30 July, the day before the penultimate game of City’s four pre-season fixtures in the USA. Should Spain reach the final, Gomez will almost certainly miss all five City games prior to the 2024/25 season (four friendlies and the Community Shield).

Writing on X, Gomez said: “A dream… PARIS 2024!!!!! Happy and proud to be able to represent [Spain ] at the Olympic Games!”

While the 23-year-old started just four games throughout last season, and none in the Premier League, his absence will be a blow for Pep Guardiola due to the international commitments of his players this summer. 

From the squad that ended last season, only Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson, Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland will have the summer off. Ederson is also not involved with Brazil at Copa America but it's unclear when he will recover from a broken eye socket sustained at the end of the campaign. Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic’s early exits from Euro 2024 could see them return early to a group that will be beefed up with several youngsters.

Meanwhile, Spain are one of 16 countries competing in the male Olympics football section and have been drawn in a group alongside Uzbekistan, Egypt and the Dominican Republic.