Manchester City team, which includes the Egyptian international Omar Marmoush among its ranks, continues its preparations for the new season by playing a heavyweight match against Italian Inter Milan today, Saturday.
Check the Manchester City match date and the broadcasting channel
Maresca explained that his goal from facing Inter Milan is to raise the fitness level of his players, and with only two weeks left until the first official match of the season, which is the Charity Shield match, he expects to field a strong starting lineup.
Manchester City's available options against Inter Milan
According to the "Manchester Evening News" website, Gianluigi Donnarumma will be City's first-choice option and will start in goal, while the defensive quartet in front of him will see major changes, as Matheus Nunes joins the team later today.
Accordingly, this match will be an opportunity for Rico Lewis to play some minutes at right-back, and it is expected that Abdoulaye Khusanov will start alongside Joško Gvardiol in central defense, with Ryan Ait-Nouri at left-back.
As Nico González was not called up for the World Cup, and in the absence of Rodri, he is expected to start in midfield, where the 24-year-old player will be a key element in City's lineup this season in the event of the Spanish international's departure.
Alongside him, Mateo Kovačić or Tijjani Reijnders may play. Like González, the Dutchman Tijjani Reijnders appears to be on the verge of an important season, as his performance in his first season was inconsistent, and City expects a more stable performance from him this year.
If Maresca relies on his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, Ryan McAido may get the chance against Inter, after the 18-year-old participated in two matches with the first team during the 2025/26 season and scored a goal in the (10-1) win over Exeter City.
The attacking dilemma and Omar Marmoush's situation
The report noted that Manchester City is suffering from a crisis of a shortage of outright strikers, as the Egyptian international Omar Marmoush arrived to the team's tour very late, before this match.
Norwegian Erling Haaland is still on vacation after participating in the 2026 World Cup until the quarterfinals, so the Sky Blues may start the match with Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo as striker.
Manchester City's expected lineup against Inter
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Defense: Rico Lewis, Abdoulaye Khusanov, Joško Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri
Defensive midfield: Nico González, Tijjani Reijnders.
Attacking midfield: Ryan McAido, Phil Foden, Savinho
Striker: Antoine Semenyo