Man City defender ruled out of pre-season fixtures as Olympics call-up gives strong transfer hint

Manchester City defender Sergio Gomez will not represent the club during pre-season, having received a call-up to the Spanish squad for the 2024 Paris Olympic games - a move which could signal the end of his Blues career.

Gomez was one of a handful of senior players not included in their national team squads for Euro 2024 or the Copa America, offering a chance to get some much-needed game-time in pre-season if he wanted to try and climb his way up the pecking order at the Etihad.

The full-back, who operates as a forward for his country, has been linked with a move away this summer having played a peripheral role over his two seasons at City. Last term, he played just 47 minutes in the Premier League across six appearances. Having now been ruled out of the pre-season tour, there is every chance he has played his last game for the club should he arrange a move before or after the Olympics.

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Gomez, 23, was a regular for Spain's under-21s while he was eligible up until last summer when he ended the U21 European Championship as joint top scorer in the tournament from a wing position. He netted 10 goals in 19 under-21 appearances but is yet to make his senior debut and is now too old to represent the under-21s.

The Olympics, however, are open to under-23 players, with three spots reserved for players over that age limit. Gomez has got one of those spots, with most of Spain's international options representing their clubs at the Euros. Also in the squad are former City academy players Eric Garcia and Adrian