Manchester City confirm pre-season tour plans ahead of friendlies against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid

Manchester City have officially confirmed their plans for pre-season, with Pep Guardiola’s squad starting preparations for the new campaign next week.

The treble-winners will return to the City Football Academy on Monday 17th July, as Manchester City bid to win the Premier League title for a fourth successive season.

City will also seek to retain their European crown this year, with the Champions League Final taking place Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1st June 2024.

Pep Guardiola’s squad will travel to East Asia for the majority of their pre-season preparations, as three friendlies are lined up with fixtures in both Japan and South Korea.

The Sky Blues have made one summer signing to date, adding former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic for £25 million, after the departure of club captain Ilkay Gundogan last month.

Manchester City are also strongly linked with RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, while a number of first-team players continue to be linked with exits, including Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte.

The club have announced that the first-team squad will spend two days training in Manchester next week before flying to Japan on Wednesday, ahead of two friendlies in Tokyo.

City face reigning J League champions Yokohama F. Marinos on Sunday 23rd July at the Japan National Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 11:00 BST.

Guardiola’s squad will return to the Japan National Stadium on Wednesday 26th July to face Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, kicking-off at 11:30 BST.

Manchester City beat Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last season, winning 4-1 on aggregate, courtesy of an emphatic 3-0 first-leg win at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the German club have been linked with potentially signing Kyle Walker this summer, so could the Englishman play against Thomas Tuchel’s team later this month?

The Premier League champions will conclude their tour of East Asia in South Korea, playing Atletico Madrid in Seoul on Sunday 30th July at 12:00 BST.

Manchester City will then return to England to prepare for the FA Community Shield clash with Arsenal on Sunday 6th August.

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