Manchester City unveiled their first three summer signings (forward Julian Alvarez, scoring sensation Erling Haaland and backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega Moreno) earlier today at The Etihad for a special presentation event. The trio, headlined by Norwegian striker Erling Haaland of course, were introduced to supporters for the first time at the Etihad Stadium’s West Reception on Sunday. The club’s fourth signing, Kalvin Phillips, who was made official on Monday, did not take part.
Alvarez, Haaland and Moreno then joined up with the rest of the first team squad for pre-season training.
City, the reigning Premier League champions and winners of four of the last five league titles, head into the new season as favorites to hoist the trophy yet again. If you’re looking for gaming options that involve betting on football, then you’ll see Man City consistently have the shortest odds of any side. And it’s easy to understand why- they reach greatness, and then keep improving. When you’re standing still, it means that in reality you’re actually falling behind, and at The Etihad, this simply doesn’t happen.
City went out and got the most premier player available in the transfer market this summer, and they did before the season even ended. They knew what they wanted and they wasted no time going after it.
City fans have been queueing since the morning to get a seat for this, line snaking round the stadium pic.twitter.com/NgNyCpt2Y8
— Simon Bajkowski (@spbajko) July 10, 2022
Said Julian Alvarez of Erling Haaland : “I need to focus on myself, he’s a great player, scores lots of goals. I want to contribute my own things… I want to play a lot, win the Premier League and Champions League.”
It was certainly a blockbuster event today, which drew a big crowd (as you can see above). Said Ortega of Haaland: “When I saw him for the first time in Salzburg he was a bit thin and now he is a monster. With his size and speed and quality in shooting and headers, he is the full package.”
The new signings are here ? ? pic.twitter.com/4rnJSwzQdo
— Manchester City News (@ManCityMEN) July 10, 2022
It won’t be long until the club flies out to the United States, to begin their exhibition tour, which includes the Audi Football Summit, against Bayern Munich, at the world famous Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
And City’s first preseason match is now only 10 days away.
A fan favourite already! pic.twitter.com/mCOd7UfaCJ
— Manchester City News (@ManCityMEN) July 10, 2022
Summer Preseason Exhibition Tour
20 July v Club America (NRG Stadium, Houston)
23 July v Bayern Munich (Lambeau Field, Green Bay)
30 July v Liverpool (King Power Stadium) – FA Community Shield
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.