Manu Akanji is hoping for a reunion with some Manchester City teammates - so he can knock them and England out of the Euros.
25.06.2024 - 10:28 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
After a few years on pause during the pandemic, Manchester City returned to pre-season tours in 2022.
Pep Guardiola took his players to the United States in 2022 before heading to the Far East last year in trips where football is often a secondary factor. The main aim for the club is to promote themselves with an audience who rarely gets to see them up close, earning more global appeal and money as a result.
That doesn't mean that there is no footballing upside though. Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic are among the new signings that have been able to bed into the team during this time, and it has also been a critical time for academy players.
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Two years ago, Rico Lewis picked his moment to shine as he impressed in a friendly against Bayern Munich to convince Guardiola that he had first-team potential. Before the season was out, the teenager had displaced Joao Cancelo from the side and shown John Stones how to thrive in the hybrid role that he would star in against Inter in the Champions League final.
Last summer, step forward Oscar Bobb. James McAtee also impressed but when he headed out on loan to Sheffield United there was space for Bobb to step into after impressing first team coaches with his displays in training and friendly games; Bobb then scored one of the most important goals of City's season with his late winner in the Premier League game at Newcastle.
Guardiola does not easily give major opportunities to young players but there is always a path for those that are good enough. While Phil Foden is the north star of the academy, Lewis and
Manu Akanji is hoping for a reunion with some Manchester City teammates - so he can knock them and England out of the Euros.
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