Manchester City

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter at Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong

Image source, Getty Images

Enzo Maresca's first game in charge of Manchester City ended in a defeat on penalties to Inter Milan after a 1-1 friendly draw in Hong Kong - but results don't really matter in friendlies.

Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola this summer - and the new boss got off to the perfect start when Divin Mubama scored the opener from close range on 14 minutes.

Benjamin Pavard equalised for Inter six minutes later, but neither team were able to find a winner in the second half.

The damage was done when City missed their first three spot-kicks, with Matteo Lavelli netting the winner for the Serie A side.

Players' pre-season performances do matter though - and teenager Ryan McAidoo grabbed the opportunity with both hands at Kai Tak Stadium.

More than 40,000 supporters turned out for a repeat of the 2023 Champions League final and they will have left with his name on their lips.

The 18-year-old was signed from Chelsea two years ago and clearly has something about him.

He was given his debut by Guardiola and scored in the 10-1 FA Cup drubbing of Exeter City last season. He also played against Salford City in the next round.

"Since day one, he has been the kind of winger I love," said Maresca. "He is very aggressive in 1v1s, always trying and looking to make the right decision.

"But he is young and he needs the right path."

McAidoo replaced goalscorer Mubama at the start of the second half and was in no mood to stand still.

Once he began to get the better of Inter's defenders, there was an air of anticipation every time he got on the ball. He was the star of the show.

The likes of Phil Foden, Nico O'Reilly and Cole Palmer have come through City's academy in recent years to make it into the first team, so will McAidoo be the next to establish himself as a regular?

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter in Hong Kong

Image source, Manchester City

Manchester City launched their new away kit on a floating pitch at the picturesque setting of the harbour in Hong Kong.

Phil Foden, Abdukodir Khusanov and Ryan McAidoo were on stage in front of scores of fans before revealing the black and yellow Puma kit, which is finished with a swarm of worker bees - a nod to one of Manchester's most recognisable symbols.

City say the bee signifies the "graft, unity and resilience that define the city" with the kit "reinforcing a shared commitment to the city, its people and the authentic connection between the club and the communities that surround it".

Puma vice president Dominique Gauthier said: "This kit is about giving Manchester City players a shirt that performs at the highest level while carrying real meaning for the city and its fans.

"We wanted every detail to reflect the identity of this club and the culture around it. It's a shirt built for the pitch but made to be worn with pride well beyond it."

Enzo Maresca's side are in the Far East for pre-season, taking on Inter Milan on Saturday followed by further friendly matches against K-League All Stars and Atletico Madrid in Seoul next week.

Image source, Manchester City

Manchester City are in advanced talks with Lille for 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. (Talksport), external

Meanwhile, City are eyeing Marseille and Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, 34, as a replacement for James Trafford. (ESPN), external

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We asked for your views on who should be Manchester City's captain for the 2026-27 season.

Here are some of your comments:

Adam: I'm not a fan of goalkeepers or attackers being captains. Sometimes they're too far out of the action and their roles require singular focus. It's got to be a central defender or midfielder with a broader overview of the game. Ruben Dias or Rodri (if he stays).

Freddie: First choice has to be Rodri if he stays. Second is Dias as he's always had that leadership quality and stands in whenever he has to. Third would be Erling Haaland - I can see real potential in him as our captain as he does possess the key characteristics. If Enzo Maresca picks none of these, I don't know who! Knowing him, he'll go for Max Alleyne!

Paddy: Dias has played at the club for a while and has lots of experience. I can see him as a captain because he controls the defence with ease and can easily captain a full squad.

Andrew: Rodri - if he stays. Behind that a leadership group of Haaland, Dias and Gianluigi Donnarumma. That's more or less four top international captains, balanced between sectors of the pitch.

Joe: Dias because he's a great leader of the backline and gives speeches to the team to hype them up.

Harry: Dias, Haaland or Phil Foden would be my choices for the captaincy. Admittedly, I'm unsure how many starts Dias and Foden will get, but I trust them both and it has to be someone with a few years at the club who takes the mantle.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The stock of Kalvin Phillips, who is set to join Sheffield United again this summer, was at its highest when he was named England's player of the year at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

He continued that form with Leeds United before Manchester City decided to pay £45m to sign the player the following summer, but his Blues career never took off.

He played only one Premier League game before the 2022 World Cup, where he made just two substitute appearances for England.

Phillips returned that December to find himself out of City's squad for their first game back against Liverpool. Guardiola publicly accused him of being "overweight" and not fit enough to train or play.

He never really recovered from that.

The midfielder attempted to reignite his career but endured unsuccessful spells at West Ham and Ipswich over the next two seasons.

There was a brief return in a City shirt last September when he featured for the final seven minutes of a Carabao Cup tie victory at Huddersfield, but it proved to be a false dawn.

A return to Sheffield United again this summer is Phillips' latest attempt to revive his career.

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

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When Elliot Anderson completed his £116m move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City last week, there was a sense of deja vu.

It is not the first time City has signed one of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League fresh from an impressive first international tournament with England.

A similar story unfolded in 2022 when Kalvin Phillips left his boyhood club, Leeds United, to join City on a six-year deal.

It would be easy to view Phillips' Manchester City career as a story of wasted talent and unfulfilled potential.

With the benefit of hindsight, the circumstances surrounding his £45m move in 2022 paint a more complicated picture.

Anderson is unlikely to face the same challenges during his debut season at City next term.

The club are set to enter a period of transition following Pep Guardiola's departure at the end of last season, with Enzo Maresca appointed as his successor.

It comes alongside the departures of several long-serving players, including John Stones and Bernardo Silva. There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of Rodri, with reports in Spain linking the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner with a potential move to Real Madrid.

In 2022, City were fresh from back-to-back Premier League titles and Phillips was expected to compete for a place in midfield with Rodri, who was establishing himself as one of the best players in the world in that position.

However, Anderson faces a different challenge.

As the second most expensive British player of all time, his move to the Etihad has attracted significant attention.

The 23-year-old will be aware of the scrutiny he will face and can use Phillips' struggles as a reminder of the demands that come with playing for one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.

For Anderson, the next step is adapting quickly to life at City and showing he can become an important part of the club's new era.

Read more on Anderson's challenge

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Former Manchester City winger Mark Kennedy believes Erling Haaland is the perfect candidate to take on the captaincy role.

City have jetted off for their pre-season tour of Hong Kong and Seoul, but Enzo Maresca is yet to name the new club captain.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Kennedy said: "Every time I watch City I see a leader [in Erling Haaland].

"I see someone driving the team forward and someone not giving up. Every time I watch City, he catches my eye in terms of his leadership qualities."

During the 2024-25 campaign, Haaland captained Guardiola's side on occasions, but was not named the outright skipper for his side.

During Guardiola's 10-year reign, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva all had spells wearing the armband.

Although Kennedy supports the Norwegian being named as captain, his role as a forward affects his chances.

He added: "When you're attacking in the final third, as a defender and a goalkeeper, you're still organising your back four, whereas when you're a forward and there are things going on at the opposite end, you're not actually doing much.

"As a defender and a midfielder, you're never not involved in the game."

Who should be Man City's next captain? Tell us

Real Madrid are confident of signing 30-year-old Spain midfielder Rodri - who has one year left on his contract with Manchester City - for 40-50m euros (£34m-£43m) and a deal could be finalised after a meeting on Thursday. (AS - in Spanish), external

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We asked for your views on Jack Grealish's future at Etihad Stadium and if he could play for the club again, after the winger returned to pre-season training but missed out on a squad place for Manchester City's pre-season tour of Hong Kong and Seoul.

Here are some of your thoughts:

June: No! City played better without him last season, so why have him back in a City shirt? He spent too much time on the grass instead of playing. So, to my mind, he is not worth having back.

Roger: I'd love to get him back playing a part in the team for this coming season. I was saddened to see John Stones leave, particularly when his heart is with the club. The same could be said for Kevin de Bruyne. These players, albeit at the end of their careers and with injury baggage, would and could have a significant impact on keeping the team spirit alive. We may have pipped Arsenal if they had still been a part of the team. Letting James Trafford go is also going to be a huge error.

Paul: We should get rid. Jack Grealish is City's worst signing since Lee Bradbury. He is a legend in his own head and he brings nothing. He wears the number 10 shirt, but he couldn't hit a barn door.

Keith: Dear Jack, put your partying on hold if you haven't already and show everyone the player we have seen and we love. Make your career blossom again, please!

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Spanish football journalist Lucas Navarrete says the Real Madrid board "have decided to go all in" to achieve the signing of Rodri.

Since lifting the World Cup and being named as Player of the Tournament, Rodri has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

The 30-year-old midfielder has a year left on his contract and is currently having rehabilitation for back surgery. Manchester City have not confirmed a timeline for his return.

Navarrete said Spanish media "100%" expect Jose Mourinho's side to sign Rodri once they have completed the signing of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig.

He explained: "It is true that most of the headlines are focused on Yan Diomande, the winger from RB Leipzig.

"It seems that Real Madrid are going to get their hands full with negotiating with Manchester City after completing that signing."

During this summer window, Madrid have signed Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Bernardo Silva and Denzel Dumfries.

Since joining City in 2019, Rodri has been crowned the Ballon d'Or winner, won 13 club trophies as well as the European Championship and World Cup with Spain.

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Manchester City returned to pre-season training last week and midfielder Jack Grealish was spotted among the players who had reported for duty.

But any immediate hopes of seeing the 30-year-old donning a City shirt once more were dashed on Tuesday night when he missed out on a seat on the plane for the club's tour of Hong Kong and Seoul over the next 11 days.

Sources have said Grealish continues to recuperate from a season-ending foot injury sustained in January during a loan spell at Everton, where he was starting to recapture his best form, and it is too early to speculate what the future might hold.

The injury ended not only his time at Hill Dickinson Stadium but an outside shout at playing at the World Cup for England too.

Having seemingly been discarded by former boss Pep Guardiola, Grealish now finds himself back at City as he enters the final 12 months of his contract with little sign of being offered new terms on his reported £300,000-a-week wages.

The former Aston Villa captain turns 31 in September and the key question is whether new boss Enzo Maresca will reintegrate him into the first-team set-up or be happy to sanction a move which will end his time at Etihad Stadium.

The Italian left the door open last week, saying: "At the moment, he is here. He is a Manchester City player. I always said the same. In any club I join, I like to know if there are players that belong to the club.

"It's my duty to try to coach them. Jack is here. I have a good relationship with Jack since I left. Also, we keep in touch, and the reason why is because he has a big heart and he is a very good guy. So this is the reason why and then we see what happens."

How do you feel about Grealish's future at the club? Would you like to see him back on the pitch in a City shirt?

Get in touch with your views here