Two of the most famous names in European football, the sides have met in a number of pre-season friendlies, the last being a 5-1 International Champions Cup victory for City back in 2014.
Intriguingly though, City and AC have only ever met competitively once – way back in the 1978/79 campaign when the Blues memorably secured a 5-2 UEFA Cup third round aggregate triumph.
However, there are several famous players who have had the distinction of representing both the Rossoneri and City over the course of their distinguished careers.
Ahead of the game at the home of the New York Yankees which gets underway at 22:30 (UK) on Saturday 27 July, we take a look at some of those close ties.
Mario Balotelli
The Italian striker endeared himself to City fans everywhere over the course of a memorable two and a half year stay at the Etihad between 2010 and 2013.
Though he only made 80 appearances all told, scoring 30 goals, Balotelli’s impact, influence and endearing legacy is undeniable.
In that time, the Italian international helped the Club end our 35-year wait for silverware by helping City lift the 2011 FA Cup.
Super Mario then played a pivotal role in City’s unforgettable march to the 2011/12 Premier League title, his ‘Why Always Me’ celebration following the opening strike in a 6-1 demolition derby win at Old Trafford forming one of the Premier League’s most iconic moments.
And Balotelli it was whose subtle assist paved the way for Sergio Aguero’s seismic 93:20 goal against Queens Park Rangers in May 2012 to clinch our maiden Premier League crown.
A former Inter Milan star, on leaving City Balotelli switched Milan allegiances by joining AC Milan, going on to make 77 appearances in total for the San Siro side, registering 33 goals across all competitions.
Nigel De Jong
Like Balotelli, de Jong proved a pivotal member of that City side that ended our long wait for success and who helped put the Club on a pathway towards sustained success.
A tough combative midfield presence, the Dutchman married silk and steel to formidable effect and was a hugely popular figure across the course of his three and half year stay at the Etihad between 2009 and 2012.
In total, he made 137 appearances for City notching up two goals.
De Jong started in our 2011 FA Cup final win over Stoke City and also played a key role the following term to help Roberto Mancini’s side lift the 2011/12 Premier League title.
He subsequently left City in August 2012, making the move to AC Milan where he went on to make 96 appearances in total, scoring seven times.
George Weah
The Liberian icon helped City make worldwide headlines when he joined the Club in the summer of 2000 towards the latter stages of his illustrious career.
One of the game’s most acclaimed post-war strikers, Weah held the distinction of being both a former Ballon d’Or winner and FIFA World Player of the Year.
He had also become a legendary figure at AC Milan, scoring 58 times in 147 appearances to help the Club to two Serie A titles over the course of a memorable five years at the San Siro.
Small wonder then there was excitement aplenty when he arrived at Maine Road in August 2000 to join Joe Royle’s City squad on our return to the Premier League.
However, it was to prove a brief stay in Manchester with Weah making just 11 appearances scoring four times before he departed for Marseille that October citing frustration at a lack of starting opportunities.
After calling time on his storied football career shortly afterwards, Weah went on to carve out a remarkable career as a politician and served as the president of Liberia between 2018 and 2024.
Patrick Vieira
The French midfielder’s time at City may only have been brief, totalling just over 18 months towards the end of his remarkable career between 2010 and 2011, but he still made a significant impact.
Vieira’s superb natural talent, vast experience and cast-iron winning mentality all proved vital ingredients in helping Roberto Mancini usher in a sea change in the Club’s fortunes, with Vieira making a late appearance from the bench to help City win the 2011 FA Cup final against Stoke.
That proved to be his 46th and final appearance for City as well as being his last game in senior football with Vieira then making the move into a coaching and development role at the Club where he made an equally big impression.
Vieira had earlier represented AC Milan at the outset of his fledgling career, playing five times for the Rossoneri before then joining Arsenal where he went on to enjoy enormous success both personally and collectively.
Brahim Diaz
Having joined City from Malaga as a 16-year-old, the Spanish born midfielder made his senior debut in October 2016 as a 17-year-old and went on to figure 15 times in total for Pep Guardiola’s side.
He was part of the squad that lifted the 2017/18 Premier League title along with the 2018 Community Shield before then moving on to Real Madrid in the January of 2019.
After subsequently having helped Real win the 2019/20 La Liga title, Diaz was subsequently loaned to AC Milan at the start of the 2020/21 campaign and went on to spend three seasons in total on loan at the San Siro before returning to Madrid in the summer of 2023.
He made a telling impression over the course of those three years, figuring 126 times in total and scoring 18 goals and helping AC secure the Italian Serie A title in 2021/22.
