Melbourne City v Manchester City: A-League club to play EPL giant who will base itself on Gold Coast

MELBOURNE City will face English Premier League giant and sister club Manchester City on the Gold Coast next month.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Yaya Toure of Manchester City looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton held at Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE City will face English Premier League giant and sister club Manchester City on the Gold Coast next month.

The League giants are coming to the Gold Coast where they will spend 11 days and play two friendlies — at CBus Super Stadium against A-League opposition — as part of their preparation for their new season.

City are now set to spend the majority of July in Australia as they are also scheduled to play against Real Madrid and AS Roma in the International Champions Cup at the MCG.

City captain Vincent Kompany can’t wait to come to the Gold Coast

They will play against sister club Melbourne City on Saturday, July 18 and, we are sorry to say Adelaide United fans, the friendly scheduled for three days earlier will be played behind closed doors.

Tickets for the Melbourne City clash go on sale on Friday and are priced from $25.

City are then due to face Italian giants Roma on Tuesday, July 21 and finally Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid on Friday, July 24 in a busy schedule which is sure to win them more Aussie fans.

Managed by Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, the squad features superstars like Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany. They have won two of the last four EPL titles and finished as runners up to Chelsea last season.

They begin their 2015-16 Premier League campaign two weeks later with a visit to West Bromwich Albion.

Spanish star David Silva has been in Manchester City’s colours for five years now.

And the players are looking forward to the trip. Club captain Vincent Kompany said it would be a great opportunity for Aussie fans.

“I’ve thought many times of going there but it has never been physically possible so it’s good the club is taking us there,” said club captain Kompany.

“We get to see our brothers in arms over there, so it’s a good thing for us. I think the people in Australia will be happy to see us.”

He said he was expecting passionate support out on the Gold Coast.

“People don’t realise when you are in Manchester there are people out there who feel just as strongly as locals might do. When you go abroad you give them a rare opportunity to experience what we might experience and get close to the team,” he said.

Joe Hart is often rated one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

City Football Group and Manchester City FC board director Simon Pearce said his club believed the Gold Coast base ‘would be their best preparation for the season ahead.’

“A lot of work has gone into the planning for this and everyone concerned is looking forward to the training camp and associated games,” he said.

Originally published as Melbourne City v Manchester City: A-League club to play EPL giant who will base itself on Gold Coast