Atletico Madrid centre-back Jose Gimenez has spent the best part of 200 days on the sidelines with injuries over the past two seasons, leaving some Manchester City fans to question whether the club should be pursuing the Uruguayan.
The 25-year-old has been named as one of two alternatives to Kalidou Kouibaly with the Citizens’ attempts to sign the Napoli star having stalled. Supporters on Twitter are not sure Gimenez would be the better option:
Ouch.. 2nd thoughts
— Manchester is BLUE (@manchesterisB) September 16, 2020
Yeah exactly like stones . Go for Diego Carlos more good than gimenez and maybe less money
— Ervis Kovaci (@ervis_kovaci) September 16, 2020
Koulibaly is clear
— Pearce (@PearceCTID) September 16, 2020
When we said replace kompany we didn't mean like that ?
— Jack Thompson (@JackTho56672997) September 16, 2020
Upamecano or Diego Carlos are more suitable options please.
— Davylee?? (@Davylee19) September 16, 2020
Avoid like the plague then. We’ve had enough injuries at the back. I wonder how many injury days, in the last 3 seasons, our defenders have had? With Mendy, Stones, Laporte, it has to be huge
— Manchester Blue (@ManchesterBlu16) September 16, 2020
We can’t have a laporte and gimenez in a team. They are prone to injury
— Playboy (@_Udozy) September 16, 2020
Issa no. Just get upamecano or diego ffs.
— Focus On Yourself???? (@Relly_95) September 16, 2020
Gimenez has also been linked with Chelsea this summer and, aside from his injury record, another major problem is his €120m (£109m) release clause. Atletico are unlikely to agree to selling the centre-back for below that number, meaning the prospects of the defender moving to the Etihad before the transfer window shuts are pretty low.
Koulibaly may well be expensive, especially as he is 29, but he rarely gets injured and he has been pretty consistent with his performances. City may well be wise to stick with their original plan to get the Senegalese international.