Manchester City are preparing for a new era under Enzo Maresca as the former assistant coach begins his first full pre-season as Pep Guardiola’s successor.
The Italian has returned to the Etihad Stadium after successful spells elsewhere and will use the summer to embed his ideas before City’s bid to reclaim the Premier League title gets underway. Several first-team players are expected to return later than usual after their involvement at the FIFA World Cup, meaning Maresca has initially worked with a mix of senior squad members and academy prospects.
Unlike several Premier League rivals, City have opted for a compact overseas tour of Asia. Their preparations begin in Hong Kong against Inter Milan before they travel to South Korea for matches against the K-League All-Stars and Atletico Madrid. The tour concludes with the Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff before the Premier League campaign begins a week later.
City have not announced any behind-the-closed-doors friendlies before departing for Asia. With a large number of internationals returning from extended breaks, Maresca has instead focused on training sessions at the City Football Academy before the squad flies out for its first public fixture.
The three friendlies will offer City an early opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition. Inter Milan provide the opening challenge in Hong Kong before the Blues face a K-League All-Stars selection in Seoul. Their final warm-up match comes against Atletico Madrid, offering another high-quality examination just one week before competitive action resumes.
Manchester City pre-season fixtures
1 August: Manchester City vs Inter Milan – Hong Kong (12.30pm BST)
5 August: K-League All-Stars vs Manchester City – Seoul (12pm BST)
9 August: Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid – Seoul (12pm BST)
16 August: Community Shield – Arsenal vs Manchester City – Principality Stadium, Cardiff (3pm BST)
City’s pre-season schedule may be shorter than those of many of their rivals, but it offers Maresca three demanding fixtures before his first competitive match in charge. Meetings with Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid should provide valuable tests as the Italian prepares to lead the club into a new chapter following Guardiola’s departure.
Read more – Liverpool pre-season fixtures and 2026 summer schedule
Also see – Manchester United pre-season fixtures and 2026 summer schedule
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