Enzo Maresca has travelled with the Manchester City squad for their tour of Asia as the former Chelsea manager prepares for his first pre-season with the club and their first since the departure of Pep Guardiola, as reported by [The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7471555/2026/07/27/manchester-city-tour-haaland-rodri-foden/?unlocked_article_code=1.01A.nmsQ.BoEAnsgZCurZ&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share).
Maresca inherits one of the strongest squads in world football, and one of the players he will have the luxury of working with is Erling Haaland. The Norway international has established himself as one of the club’s most influential players and will be expected to play a key role under the new manager.
The striker has committed to a long-term contract with City, where he has flourished and has already become one of the leading players in the game. Maresca will now look to build on that success as he begins a new era at the club.
Haaland remains on extended break
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Under Guardiola, Haaland developed into one of the most prolific forwards in world football, with the manager helping him reach remarkable levels of performance. Maresca will now aim to get the best out of the Norway star as City prepare for the upcoming campaign.
Because Haaland played at the World Cup until the quarter-finals with the Norway national team, he is still on an extended break. As reported, he is not part of the Manchester City squad that has travelled for the tour of Asia.
The forward will therefore miss this stage of the club’s pre-season preparations, allowing him additional time to recover following his international commitments before returning to club duties.
Manchester City prepare for new campaign
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Although Haaland will not be involved in the tour of Asia, he is expected to return to training before the squad comes back. That timeline should allow him to take part in the next phase of Manchester City’s preparations for the new season.
His return will provide Maresca with the opportunity to begin working closely with one of the world’s top forwards as the manager prepares his squad for the challenges ahead. City will hope Haaland can quickly regain full fitness and continue the outstanding form that has made him such an important player for the club.