Latics may face City slickers in friendly

Celtic's Patrick Roberts celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow.

ATHLETIC could go up against young talent from the Manchester City ranks when they take on Spanish opponents late next month.

Ahead of their first ever season in La Liga following promotion, Girona will come to SportsDirect.com Park on Thursday, July 27, for a friendly that comes at the end of a week-long stay at the City Football Academy. The squad fly back to Catalonia the following day.

Girona and City have strong links. Pere Guardiola, younger brother of Pep, has been a senior advisor to the club for some time and next season, reports are that a host of players could be loaned out to the Estadi Montilivi.

City's Spanish right-back Pablo Maffeo has been with Girona for the past two seasons and may return again, along with countrymen Aleix García and Brahim Díaz, plus ex-Celtic star Patrick Roberts, Belgian centre-back Jason Denayer and Colombian forward Marlos Moreno.

On their return home, Girona have a home friendly against Premier League new boys Brighton arranged for Tuesday, August 1, in Palamos.