Manchester City in negotiations to tour Australia to play Melbourne Heart and Brisbane Roar
MANCHESTER City could be touring Australia in May, with possible matches against Melbourne Heart and Brisbane Roar already mooted.
ENGLISH Premier League heavyweight Manchester City could be touring Australia in May, with a match against Melbourne Heart at Etihad Stadium mooted.
But City officials on Thursday night denied that a deal had been sealed amid reports that the tour was due to kick off against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium just days after their final game of the season at home to West Ham.
“There is always significant speculation surrounding Manchester City Football Club’s out of season itinerary,” the statement said.
“However, with the exception of our July trip to the USA for the Guinness International Cup and fixture against MLS winners Sporting Kansas City, there has been no decision made regarding location, dates or opponents for any other off-season activity. Any commentary to the contrary is completely without foundation.”
It’s understood negotiations are advanced, but both games are still subject to funding approval from the Victorian and Queensland state governments. Talks are ongoing.
Should the tour go ahead it would mark the commencement of City’s relationship with brother club Heart after the $11.25m takeover in January from Peter Sidwell and the founding ownership group.
City players bound for the 2014 World Cup would be excluded from the touring party under FIFA regulations, but the squad would still include the likes of Jack Rodwell, Micah Richards and Aleksandar Kolarov with manager Manuel Pellegrini at the helm.
City is due to play its final game of the season on May 12, when they hope to be crowned Premier League champions for the second time in three years.
Pellegrini’s side is currently third, three points behind leaders Chelsea with two games in hand ahead of Sunday morning’s crucial clash away to Arsenal.