Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Manchester City, Champions League, Roberto Mancini, Inter Milan, Liverpool
Ryan Smart
Topics: Manchester City, Champions League, Roberto Mancini, Inter Milan, Liverpool
Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has been spotted at tonight's Champions League final against Inter Milan - the second time he has watched the club in competitive action in person.
Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group - now a majority shareholder in the City Football Group - took over the club in September 2008, with the club going on to change the face of English football.
But the club's owner has rarely been seen at competitive City matches. In fact, his only previous appearance was during a home Premier League game against Liverpool in 2010.
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The scoreline was 3-0 to City, in what was the second game of the 2010/11 season. The following campaign, Roberto Mancini's side would lift the Premier League title.
He was also present at Zayed Sports City in 2009, when Mark Hughes' side lost 1-0 in a tour match against the United Arab Emirates.
The Daily Mail claim that Mansour made the trip to Istanbul on Saturday morning in time to travel to the stadium in the evening, as he wanted to be present at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium for if Pep Guardiola's side go on to lift the trophy this summer.
Naturally, City's side to take on Liverpool was vastly different to the one that has taken to the field to Istanbul on a warm Saturday evening. Not a single player in either squad is still active for their respective club.
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Joe Hart was in goal for Mancini's side, with Vincent Kompany, Micah Richards, Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott featuring in defence. Lescott is on punditry duty for BT Sport in Istanbul, and Richards is with CBS Sports.
James Milner played in midfield, with Nigel De Jong in the centre of the park. Carlos Tevez was the sole striker, with Yaya Toure operating behind him.
City's bench, meanwhile, contained future legends David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta - while there was also a place among the substitutes for Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira.
Liverpool's side, meanwhile, featured Jamie Carragher - on duty for CBS Sports tonight - and Fernando Torres.
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There were also spots in the side for forgotten winger Milan Jovanovic and striker David Ngog in what was Roy Hodgson's second Premier League game in charge of the Reds.