Al Ain confirm friendly match with Man City

Simon Foster 20:18 24/04/2014
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  • UAE-bound: Man City will head to Al Ain to play a friendly on May 15.

    Arabian Gulf League club Al Ain has confirmed a friendly match against English Premier League giants Manchester City will take place on May 15.

    Taking place at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, the fixture will be held four days after City's final match of the season when they conclude their league campaign against West Ham United.

    "The Iconic Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium will host an international exhibition football match between Al Ain & Manchester City, Thursday 15-5-2014," wrote Al Ain on their official Twitter account.

    The announcement comes almost four months after City cancelled their previously arranged friendly with Al Ain – which was intended to open the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium – due to a scheduled FA Cup replay.

    The fixture will also give City the chance to take a renewed look at Al Ain playmaker Omar Abdulrahman, who joined the 2012 Premier League champions on trial following his dazzling display at the London Olympics.

    On that occasion, Abdulrahman was unable to obtain a work permit to make the move permanent, although City remain interested in the 22-year-old’s progress.

    Given the fixture will take place following the conclusion of the Premier League season, fans will be hopeful City travel to Al Ain with a strong squad, with spectators surely keen to get a close-up view of the likes of Yaya Toure, David Silva, and captain Vincent Kompany.

    Indeed, City still have a realistic chance of arriving in the UAE as Premier League champions, although the title's destiny is very much in Liverpool's hands. 

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