Pellegrini could rejoin Man City squad in Hong Kong

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini could rejoin the squad in Hong Kong on Tuesday according to assistant manager Brian Kidd.

Pellegrini left City’s pre-season training camp in South Africa and returned to his homeland of Chile due to a personal issue, leaving Kidd in charge for Thursday’s 2-1 defeat in a pre-season friendly against AmaZula.

The reason for the former Malaga coach’s absence remains unclear but Kidd is hopeful that Pellegrini will be back with his players when they continue their tour in Asia.

“He had to go back to Chile for personal reasons and he will hopefully be in Hong Kong on Tuesday,” Kidd said.

“You want the boss here but he prepared the team well for this and (assistant manager) Reuben Cousillas and the coaches have been superb since they’ve been here. The attention to detail has been terrific.”

City are close to signing both Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo, who had a medical on Thursday, and Montenegro forward Stevan Jovetic from Fiorentina, who claimed on Thursday that a fee had been agreed.