Manchester City fans woke up to news they never wanted to hear this week. Just days before one of the biggest fixtures of the season, the Manchester derby, their new striker Omar Marmoush has been ruled out with a knee injury. It was not during training at the Etihad Campus, not in a Premier League clash, but while representing his country Egypt in a World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso. Now, City must go into Sunday’s clash with Manchester United without the 26-year-old forward, a man they were counting on to bring fresh energy and firepower to their attack this season.
The announcement came from the club on Wednesday afternoon. City explained that Marmoush underwent a scan in Egypt after coming off injured early in the game. The scan confirmed what many feared: he will not recover in time to feature in the derby. Instead, he is flying back to Manchester immediately for further tests and to begin rehabilitation. The club’s statement was short and careful, but the message was loud and painful—Marmoush will not be available.
For City fans, this news hits hard. The Manchester derby is not just another game. It is a clash of pride, history, and bragging rights. City have dominated in recent years, but every derby carries its own pressure, its own storyline. Losing a striker like Marmoush so close to the game feels like a cruel twist of fate.
Marmoush’s journey to Manchester City was not ordinary. A player who had built his reputation in Germany with Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, and then sharpened his finishing touch on loan at Stuttgart, Marmoush arrived at City as part of Pep Guardiola’s summer reshaping. He was not the most high-profile signing, but Guardiola saw something unique in him: pace, directness, and a hunger to prove himself on the Premier League stage. In his early training sessions at City, teammates described him as fearless, someone who demanded the ball, someone who wanted to leave a mark.
That hunger made him an exciting option for Guardiola going into this season. With Erling Haaland as the main number nine, Marmoush offered something different. He could stretch defenses, play wide, or even operate behind the striker. He gave Guardiola flexibility, and in a squad already loaded with talent, Marmoush brought unpredictability. That is why his absence feels even more damaging ahead of a game where unpredictability can be the difference between victory and defeat.
The timing could not be worse. City’s injury list is already growing. John Stones has been nursing fitness problems, Phil Foden was also absent from England duty, and a few other players are carrying knocks. Every manager fears the international break, because it takes control out of their hands. Players travel thousands of miles, play on difficult pitches, and sometimes return with injuries that disrupt the entire club’s plans. Guardiola has often spoken about this risk, and now it has hit him once again.
For Marmoush himself, this is a bitter pill to swallow. He was desperate to play in his first Manchester derby. As a boy growing up in Cairo, he used to watch the Premier League late at night, dreaming of one day being part of these great battles. To be sidelined so soon after arriving in Manchester is a cruel twist of fate. He had told Egyptian media before the international break that he could not wait to experience the derby atmosphere. Now, he can only watch from the stands as his teammates fight without him.
Egypt too were left frustrated. Their game against Burkina Faso ended 0-0, leaving them waiting to secure qualification for the next World Cup. For Egyptian fans, Marmoush’s injury overshadowed the result. They knew how important he was for both club and country, and seeing him limp off was a painful reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in football.
City’s statement wished him a speedy recovery, but they gave no timeline. That uncertainty fuels speculation. Will Marmoush be back for the Champions League opener against Napoli on September 18? Or could this be a longer absence? Guardiola will wait for the medical team’s full assessment, but fans know too well how “short-term injuries” sometimes drag on longer than expected. The knee is always a worrying area for any footballer.
Beyond the medical reports, there is also the emotional blow. Big games like the Manchester derby are about more than tactics. They are about energy, confidence, and the feeling of going into battle with your strongest squad. Losing Marmoush robs City of one more weapon, and it puts more pressure on others to step up. Haaland will be expected to deliver, but United’s defense will focus heavily on him. Having Marmoush as an alternative would have stretched them. Now, Guardiola must think of other ways to break them down.
For Manchester United, this news will come as a small boost. Derbies are battles of psychology as much as football, and hearing that City are missing another attacker gives Erik ten Hag’s side a reason to feel more confident. But United also know that City’s squad is deep, and that Guardiola always finds solutions. They cannot afford to relax.
Still, the absence of Marmoush will shape the narrative. In every derby, small details often decide the outcome. A missed chance, a defensive mistake, or the absence of one key player. This year, Marmoush’s injury may be one of those decisive details.
Fans have been quick to react on social media. Many sent messages of support to Marmoush, urging him to come back stronger. Others expressed frustration with the international break system, blaming FIFA for forcing players into too many games. Some even suggested that City should have protected Marmoush from playing so soon after joining. But in truth, representing your country is a dream for every player, and injuries can happen anytime, anywhere.
What is certain is that City will miss him. Even if he had not yet scored many goals for the club, his presence gave them an extra dimension. Guardiola will now lean more heavily on Julian Alvarez, Jack Grealish, and Jeremy Doku to provide creativity and goals alongside Haaland.
The next few weeks will reveal how big this setback truly is. If Marmoush recovers quickly and returns for the Champions League, the damage will be limited. But if the injury drags on, City will have to cope without him in a period that could define their season. With games against Napoli, tough league fixtures, and the relentless push for another title, every player counts.
For Marmoush, the dream of playing in his first Manchester derby will have to wait. But football is full of second chances. The season is long, and there will be more derbies, more big nights, more chances to shine. His challenge now is to recover quickly, stay strong, and come back ready to prove himself.
In the history of football, setbacks like this have often been turning points. Some players use them as fuel, coming back stronger than ever. Marmoush has the character to do that. His journey from Egypt to Europe has been built on resilience. This injury, while painful, may just be another chapter in his story of determination.
For now, City fans will look nervously to Sunday. The derby will go on, with or without Marmoush. The Etihad will roar, the players will fight, and Guardiola will plot his tactics. But somewhere in the stands, Omar Marmoush will watch, his heart heavy, wishing he could be on the pitch.
Football can be cruel, but it also offers redemption. The day will come when Marmoush wears City’s shirt in a derby and feels the roar of the crowd as he runs onto the pitch. That dream has only been delayed, not destroyed. And when it happens, the wait may make it even sweeter.
