Grealish has been left out as he continues his recovery from injury, making the tour an important opportunity for others in the wide positions. City will lack a senior attacking option during three friendlies, but the absence also creates room for players such as Savinho, Claudio Echeverri and the club’s emerging forwards to press their case.
The squad includes a strong mix of first-team names and academy talent. For Maresca, that should provide a useful test of how quickly his ideas can be transferred across different levels of the squad.
Phillips’ omission carries a different meaning. Reports suggest the midfielder is close to joining Sheffield United on loan, with the Championship club viewed as his likely destination.
A move would give Phillips the regular football he has struggled to secure at City. His absence also leaves Maresca with a clearer midfield group for the tour, including Mateo Kovacic, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders. The pre-season matches may therefore help define which players are central to the new manager’s plans.
City’s schedule features Inter Milan, the K-League All-Stars and Atletico Madrid. Those opponents offer contrasting challenges, from controlled build-up against a European heavyweight to more demanding tests of defensive structure and transition play.
Players involved deep in the 2026 World Cup will have staggered returns, adding another layer to selection decisions. The tour’s first match against Inter Milan should provide the earliest indication of Maresca’s preferred shape and his willingness to trust youth.
The next storyline is clear: whether City’s younger players can turn a disrupted squad into an advantage before the 2026-27 season begins.