Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Possibly the two wealthiest clubs in the world are preparing to face off in America.
In truth, there haven’t been too many football games between these two over the last half century.
Yet, since the big Sheikh Mansour takeover of 2008, Manchester City are now established players at the top table and have the wealthiest owners in world football – or at least a club to match Real Madrid in the transfer market.
Some sports betting fans may even tell you City aspire to be the club Real are – dominant at home and abroad with a sense of swagger they can push aside any of their illustrious rivals, both on and off the pitch.
Given the backdrop then, it’s probably fitting this pre-season face-off is at a coliseum – the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
In a city made for stardom, it could well be an early opportunity for City to give a run-out to some of their four new signings, among them the Brazilian international Danilo who has just swapped Madrid white for City sky blue (although awaiting a work permit probably means he won’t face his former team-mates).
A transfer like that would have been a mere dream for City before Mansour arrived on the scene, as would spending more than £200 million on goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, defenders Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy (subject to a medical) and midfielder Bernardo Silva.
At Madrid, it’s been more about outgoings than incomings.
Danilo and Alvaro Morata (Chelsea) have been their highest profile departures with Los Blancos also saying farewell to James Rodriguez on a two-year loan deal to Bayern Munich.
After receiving around £100 million from effectively selling three squad players – players who were substitutes more than first-choice starters last season – Zinedine Zidane will almost certainly strengthen his squad in the weeks ahead.
Not in time for this one though.
The International Champions Cup is extremely high profile and this clash proves that.
But this will be just a taster of what may be to come should they draw each other in the Champions League next month!
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