Zabaleta confirms calf injury
Pablo Zabaleta has ruled himself out of the next three weeks after the Manchester City defender confirmed he has a calf tear.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YTkLmwhA3ZADuUqdxnSJnG.jpg)
Manchester City full-back Pablo Zabaleta confirmed he is out of contention for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid with a calf injury.
The Argentina international was already under an injury cloud but confirmed the extent of the damage via Twitter on Tuesday, meaning he could be out for the rest of the season.
"Sadly after an MRI scan, I can confirm a muscle tear grade two in my left calf which is around three weeks off," Zabaleta tweeted from his official account.
Sadly after an MRI scan I can confirm a muscle tear grade 2 in my left calf which is around 3 weeks off.May 3, 2016
Bacary Sagna did a fine job at right-back in Zabaleta's absence in the first leg, which finished in a 0-0 draw, and manager Manuel Pellegrini might just look at the Frenchman again.
Zabaleta started the weekend's league fixture against Southampton and played the full 90 minutes in a much poorer defensive effort, with City losing 4-2.
The Argentine has struggled with injuries all season, having made just 13 Premier League appearances and three in the Champions League.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack