Thanks to their country’s World Cup success, Argentines Sergio Agüero, Martín Demichelies and Pablo Zabaleta are not in the Manchester City team that will tour the United States starting next week. Nor are Fernandinho, Vincent Kompany, or Bacary Sagna, whose countries also made the knockout stage at Brazil 2014.
It’s a testament to City that, despite those prominent absences, the Premier League champions will still bring a star-studded squad to the United States. Yaya Touré, the league’s best midfielder, is in the squad, as are David Silva, Edin Dzeko, and Joe Hart. Summer signing Fernando will join Samir Nasri, James Milner and Jesus Navas in the midfield, Gael Clichy and Aleksandr Kolarov will be options in defense, while Willy Caballero, expected to challenge Hart of the starting goalkeeper’s job, makes his first tour with the club.
In all, 27 players will be with the team when it kicks off Champions Cup competition against AC Milan in Pittsburgh on July 27. From there, the Citizens will go to Yankee Stadium to face Liverpool before concluding the competition’s group phase in Minneapolis against Olympiacos.
Manchester City returns to England for Aug. 10’s Community Shield against Arsenal. The team opens its title defense at Newcastle United on the 17th.
Here’s the full squad:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (England), Willy Caballero, Richard Wright, Ian Lawlor
Defenders: Micah Richards, Matthias Bossaerts, Jason Denayer, Karim Rekik, Matija Nastasic, Dedryck Boyata, Gael Clichy, Aleksandar Kolarov
Midfielders: Fernando, Samir Nasri, Scott Sinclair, Javi Garcia, Emyr Huws, Jack Rodwell, Bruno Zuculini, James Milner (England), David Silva (Spain), Jesus Navas, Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)
Forwards: Alvaro Negredo, John Guidetti, Kelechi Ihenacho, Stevan Jovetic, Edin Dzeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
