Without Rodri, City struggled to defend transitions last season while their ball progression suffered. They had no direct replacement for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, with Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, and January signing Nico Gonzalez deputising for him without much success.

Manchester City secured a decisive victory over Palermo in a recent club friendly, with a final score of 3-0. The match, played at the Renzo Barbera stadium, saw City dominate in key statistical areas and showcase a strong performance,

A Tijjani Reijnders brace and an Erling Haaland goal saw Manchester City defeat Palermo 3-0 in their final preseason match.