In his first competitive outing, the new Manchester City manager lost to Inter Milan in a penalty shootout during a pre‑season fixture in Hong Kong.
The defeat prompted manager Enzo Maresca to acknowledge that the squad still requires significant reinforcement, particularly after the departure of long‑time coach Pep Guardiola.
City’s most high‑profile move in the summer was a club‑record £116 million signing of 23‑year‑old central midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Anderson is the only first‑team addition made before the transfer window closes.
Key players such as Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji have left the club, creating gaps that the new regime must address.
City are reportedly pursuing Chelsea winger Pedro Neto, a player familiar to Maresca from his Chelsea days. The Portuguese international’s estimated value is £70 million, and he is also linked with AC Milan.
During a press conference before a pre‑season match in Seoul, Maresca stated that the club is actively discussing potential arrivals with director of football Hugo Viana and CEO Ferran Soriano, emphasizing that “there are things we need to do.”
He described the pre‑season loss as a learning opportunity, noting that “there are many things we can do better” and that the team will work on these aspects from day one of the new campaign.
City’s first Premier League fixture under Maresca will be a home match against Bournemouth, setting the stage for a season that will test the effectiveness of the squad’s new build.
