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Left-back Benjamin Mendy is the world's most expensive defender

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy will be sidelined for seven months after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The French left-back was injured in the first half of Saturday's 5-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace.

"Mendy will be out until the semi-finals of the Champions League (24-25 April)," said manager Pep Guardiola.

Mendy, 23, became the world's most expensive defender in the summer after joining City from Monaco for £52m.

"Bad news guys," Mendy posted on social media. external-link "I will be joining Injury FC on loan for a couple months with ruptured ACL but will be back soon and stronger hopefully."

On Tuesday, Guardiola was asked whether he would consider looking for a replacement left-back in January and replied: "We will see in January.

"We thought next summer about looking for another left-back - another replacement - but we will see what we do.

"We have alternatives in our squad - Danilo, Fabian Delph, Fernandinho, can play there, so we will see as we go along."

Mendy has travelled to Spain to see Ramon Cugat, a close friend of Guardiola, who treated City duo Vincent Kompany and Kevin de Bruyne last season.