Defender misses Manchester City training as transfer nears completion – Five names absent | OneFootball

Vitor Reis was among five absentees from Manchester City’s open training session at the City Football Academy on Tuesday as Pep Guardiola’s side stepped up their preparations for the new season.

City opened the doors to the Joie Stadium this week for a ‘City Are Back’ fan event, with supporters offered a rare look at Guardiola’s pre-season drills and routines. While the majority of the squad took to the field, several notable players were missing.

The session followed a full return to training over the course of last week and comes just days ahead of Manchester City’s first public pre-season friendly – a clash against Italian outfit Palermo in Sicily. While City have welcomed new signings into the fold throughout the course of the summer, further exits are still anticipated before the end of August.

As Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad took to the field at the Joie Stadium for an open training session in front of supporters on Tuesday afternoon, it was confirmed that a total of five names would not be partaking in the action.

Among those was Brazilian defender Vitor Reis, who is understood to be closing in on a season-long loan move to fellow City Football Group side Girona, while Kalvin Phillips (injured) and Mateo Kovacic (injured) were also not present.

Marcus Bettinelli was a further name listed as absent for the session as James Trafford, Stefan Ortega, and Ederson took part in goalkeeping training, while Nico O’Reilly was not spotted either as he closes in on a new long-term contract with the club.

19-year-old Brazilian centre-back Vitor Reis was signed from Palmeiras for £29.6 million in January is expected to join La Liga for the 2025/26 season, providing him with regular first-team football under fellow City Football Group management.

The continued absence of Phillips is not a surprise, with the England international expected to leave the club in the coming weeks. His largely failed loan moves to West Ham and Ipswich over the last two seasons have not deterred other interested clubs, with several sides monitoring his recovery.

Mateo Kovacic, meanwhile, is recovering from his own Achilles injury and subsequent surgery sustained and undertaken towards the end of last season, ruling him out of the FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the United States and continuing to keep him away from first-team action.

Nico O’Reilly’s absence is less concerning, with the academy graduate on the verge of signing a new contract with the club. The 20-year-old featured regularly last season and remains highly regarded by staff, despite recent exit speculation that was swiftly played down.

While the training session gave fans a welcome glimpse of familiar faces and new signings – including Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Ait-Nouri – the absences offer further insight into the club’s ongoing transfer activity.

With the season opener against Wolves away from home now fast approaching and additional exits expected in the coming days and weeks, Manchester City’s squad may still evolve significantly before the end of the window.