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Man City make major recall decision on right-back and decide on next steps

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Manchester City will recall defender Issa Kabore from his nightmare loan at Benfica, and he will return to the Etihad this month.

Right-back Kabore signed for City in 2020 and has spent loans back at former club Mechelen, at Marseille, Troyes and Luton before agreeing to join Benfica in the summer. But his time in Portugal quickly fell apart.

"When you arrive at a big club like Benfica, the goals are clear. There's a clear vision," he said at the time. "We're here to win trophies and that's what we're going to strive for. They're clubs [during previous loans] that have added a lot, that have made me grow as a player and as a man. I come here with that experience, with everything I learned from them."

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However, after playing a regular role for Luton in the Premier League last season, Kabore struggled for games with Benfica, playing just seven times of which just two were starts and only 11 minutes came in the league across three substitute appearances.

Kabore was a surprise inclusion in the Community Shield squad in the summer despite not being taken on the pre-season tour to the USA, and was on the bench in the home fixture against Ipswich in August. He agreed to join Benfica on the Portuguese transfer deadline day.

Munich, Germany - November 6: Alphonso Davies of Bayern Muenchen and Issa Kabore of SL Benfica battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between FC Bayern München and SL Benfica at Allianz Arena on November 6, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Munich, Germany - November 6: Alphonso Davies of Bayern Muenchen and Issa Kabore of SL Benfica battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between FC Bayern München and SL Benfica at Allianz Arena on November 6, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

After the Benfica loan did not work out, City will work to find another loan club for Kabore in the second half of the season rather than consider him for support for Pep Guardiola's stretched first team. The Burkina Faso international is under contract until 2027 at the Etihad.

The Blues assess all of their loanees in January, and while there is not expected to be any new exits, City will not stand in the way of any other fringe players or academy prospects who could benefit from a temporary move - even if they have been supporting Guardiola's paper-thin squad in training and on the bench.