Manchester City trio Phil Foden, John Stones and Ilkay Gundogan will not take part in the pre-season tour to the United States with the rest of the squad, according to reports.
The Premier League champions are due to face Mexican outfit Club America in Houston, Texas on Thursday and German giants Bayern Munich in Green Bay, Wisconsin next Saturday before returning home to face Liverpool in the Community Shield at the end of July. Manager Pep Guardiola will be without three of his go-to players for the trip across the pond as playmaker Foden, defender Stones and midfielder Gundogan will not travel with their teammates this weekend.
The three players will instead join up with City's Under-23s and journey to a destination in Europe to continue their preparations for the new campaign. No reason has been been given for their absences.
That is according to the Daily Mail, with this update coming just over three weeks before the Sky Blues begin their defence of the Premier League title away at West Ham in early August. City are due to fly to Houston on Saturday afternoon and the squad was buoyed by news of Riyad Mahrez signing a new contract one day earlier.
The Algerian winger, 31, was the club's top scorer last season, netting 24 times in 47 appearances in all competitions while also chipping in with nine assists. Mahrez joined City from Leicester in a £60million transfer in 2018 and his two-year extension ties him down at the Etihad Stadium until 2025.
"I'm very happy to sign the new deal," he said. "I have enjoyed every single minute of my time here. It’s a pleasure to be part of such an incredible club. To have helped us achieve the success we have enjoyed in the past four seasons has been unforgettable and made us all hungry to look to achieve even more.
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"I would also like to thank Pep, Txiki [Begiristain, director of football] and the coaching staff, both for the way they have helped me to develop as a player and for pushing me to continue to improve. Now I just want to try and play my part in helping us be successful next season and beyond."
Begiristain added: "Riyad has played a major part in our success in the four years since he joined us, and we are all delighted he has agreed this new deal. He has brought so much to the Club with his skill, talent, commitment, and desire to win evident from the moment he first arrived.
"I also know that Pep and the coaching staff relish working with Riyad. He is one of the most exciting wingers operating in the game and we are all very excited to know he will be part of our ongoing drive to try and achieve more success."
