Enzo Maresca began his first full pre-season as City manager today, with the club’s non-World Cup contingent reporting back to the City Football Academy.
Rico Lewis, Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips and Nico Gonzalez are among those in for day one — four players whose long-term futures at the club remain unresolved.
Grealish’s participation may be limited depending on the injury that cut short his loan at Everton, though he’s reported to be progressing toward full fitness. Savinho, strongly linked with a £65m move to Tottenham this summer, is also in the building, having not featured at the World Cup.
Abdukodir Khusanov could report later this week after Uzbekistan’s group-stage exit, giving Maresca an early look at one of the squad’s younger players before training intensifies.
The bulk of City’s World Cup contingent — Rodri fresh off Spain’s final win, along with the England contingent, Jeremy Doku and Omar Marmoush — will get extended time off before joining the group.
Maresca won’t get a proper look at his fuller squad until City fly out for the pre-season tour of Asia, starting against Inter Milan in Hong Kong on 1 August.
For now, it’s a quiet start built around several of the players Guardiola had begun to move on from — each with something to prove before decisions are made on their futures.
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