Advertisement

I saw what Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis did in strange first Man City training session

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 21: New signings Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis of Manchester City walk out for  the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 training session at Manchester City Football Academy on January 21, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Savinho dropped into Vitor Reis' Instagram messages prior to his £29.5m signing this week, and it seems the new boy has gravitated towards his fellow Brazilian on his first full day at Manchester City.

Reis' signing from Palmeiras was announced at 11am on Tuesday, just as City's scheduled training session was due to begin. A little later than planned, City's squad eventually emerged at the Etihad Campus and Reis was ready to take part in his first session at his new club.

The chilly weather was a far cry from his Sao Paulo home, with the teenager sporting a snood alongside a similarly-wrapped up Savinho as the pair trotted out. They walked out with another new signing, 20-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov, who looked a little awkward on his first session as Reis and Savinho chatted in Portguese. Phil Foden made an effort to include him in the first warm-up drill, while the more senior players could also be seen involving the new signings.

READ MORE: Man City transfer latest as two more deals set to be completed amid £250m spend

READ MORE: Douglas Luiz 'unlucky' transfer message sent as Man City seek January boost

Once the session started, both players got stuck into a rondo and Foden was part of their group to help set the standard but also welcome the new boys to the squad. Khusanov and Reis were the only defenders training in the 15 minute open section but they cannot play at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.

As Pep Guardiola and every eligible defensive option stayed away from the cameras, only 12 outfield players trained - including youngsters Jacob Wright and Divin Mubama and the two ineligible players. You would assume the lack of defensive players was to confuse PSG in the face of some disruptive team news, or at least stall their preparations for how the back line will look.

Whatever the reason, it was a new tactic from Guardiola akin to the famous attempts by Sir Alex Ferguson to deceive opponents and reporters.

Back on the training pitch, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne looked in good form after their good weeks, while Jack Grealish was in fine spirits despite seeing Jeremy Doku (who was missing) send a statement at Ipswich in his position. Grealish ended a crossbar challenge with an impressive no-look chip from 25-yards that struck the bar square in the middle.

As preparations go for a must-win Champions League game, integrating two new signings and having a full defence missing is hardly ideal. Guardiola does everything for a reason, however, and he will hope his training mind-games pay off.

It was certainly an odd welcome to City for two players stepping into a new stratosphere for the first time.