Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 8y

Manchester City to rest Kevin De Bruyne for ICC trip to China

Kevin De Bruyne will miss Manchester City's preseason tour to China as he continues to rest after Euro 2016.

The 25-year-old is set to miss the International Champions Cup games against Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund following Belgium's run to the quarterfinals of the European Championship.

Bacary Sagna and Eliaquim Mangala will also miss the matches in Beijing and Shenzen after being part of the France squad that reached the final.

De Bruyne has had an intense 12 months since joining City last August -- making 54 appearances for his club and country despite missing more than two months of the season with knee ligament damage.

His international teammate Jason Denayer, who played in Belgium's quarterfinal defeat to Wales, is part of a 32-man squad heading to China.

It includes Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi, who were part of the Argentina side that reached the final of the Copa America in June. New signing Nolito is also in the squad along with David Silva after Spain were knocked out in the round of 16.

Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling will also join up with the first team in China after a disappointing summer with England.

The rest of the squad have been working with new boss Pep Guardiola since he took over earlier this month.

They will form the basis of the side for Guardiola's first game in charge -- the friendly with his former club Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Youth team players will also be given the chance to impress and Guardiola has included 12 Academy stars for both legs of the tour.

Skipper Vincent Kompany will travel to China as he recovers from the groin injury, picked up in May, that forced him to miss Euro 2016.

However, new signing Ilkay Gundogan will remain in Manchester as he steps up his recovery from a dislocated kneecap, which will rule him out for the start of the season.

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