City's International Round-Up: Donnarumma In, Foden Out, Reis Set for Brazil Bow

City's International Round-Up: Donnarumma In, Foden Out, Reis Set for Brazil Bow

Eight games in 35 days. That's what Enzo Maresca's first phase as City manager amounted to, and the reward for winning seven of them is that most of his squad now disperses across the globe for three weeks. The extended international break arrives with City the only side to have won all five league fixtures, a 5-0 EFL Cup canter past Norwich tucked away, and the solitary blemish a 3-0 Community Shield loss to Arsenal.

For the first time since the World Cup wrapped up in July, international football returns. Here's where the Blues are heading.

Donnarumma Answers Italy's Call

Gianluigi Donnarumma is in Robert Mancini's first Italy squad, a 34-man group that Mancini has assembled since taking charge. The goalkeeper's form for City has been a steadying presence through the early weeks, and his inclusion is no surprise.

Portugal and Croatia Call

Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes will link up with Portugal, while Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol join Croatia. Both nations will be looking to their City contingent for the kind of control that has defined the opening month at the Etihad.

England: Three In, One Notable Out

Thomas Tuchel has summoned Nico O'Reilly, Marc Guehi, and summer arrival Elliot Anderson for England's Nations League fixtures. Phil Foden, omitted from Tuchel's World Cup squad, has been left out again. That's a situation worth monitoring as the season wears on.

Cherki In, Doku Out

Rayan Cherki has made Zinedine Zidane's France squad for their Nations League games. Jeremy Doku, a key figure for Belgium at the World Cup, misses out with a calf injury picked up in that loss to Arsenal last month. Belgium will feel his absence.

Haaland Leads Norway

Erling Haaland will once again lead the line for Norway. He scored seven goals during their World Cup campaign, and his appetite shows no sign of shrinking.

African Contingent on AFCON Duty

Antoine Semenyo, Ayoub Bouaddi, and Iliman Ndiaye will feature in AFCON qualifiers for Ghana, Morocco, and Senegal respectively. A busy few days ahead for all three.

Argentina and Brazil

Argentina have called up Enzo Fernandes and Geronimo Rulli. Vitor Reis is in line for his Brazil debut after Carlo Ancelotti included him in the squad for upcoming friendlies. Allan, however, misses out.

Khusanov Carries Uzbekistan's Hopes

Defender Abdukodir Khusanov is among the marquee names in the Uzbekistan squad. The centre-back's reputation continues to grow.

Three weeks without club football. For Maresca, it's a chance to catch his breath. For the players, it's a chance to remind everyone why City's summer business looked so shrewd.