West Ham right-back Pablo Zabaleta insists that it will be interesting for him to play against his former side Manchester City in a friendly in August, so soon after leaving the club.
The Hammers are scheduled to face Manchester City in a friendly in Iceland on 4th August, a week ahead of their opening day league fixture against Manchester United.
The veteran right-back insists that the match will be particularly significant for him, not only because it will be against his former side, but also because it will give him the chance to get to know his new team-mates ahead of the new season.
“Of course it will be interesting to face my former club, so soon after leaving”, Zabaleta told his club's official website.
“But more importantly, I am looking forward to playing with my new team-mates, and it will be a great test for us one week before the start of the season."
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It will be the first such occasion when two Premier League sides will lock horns in Iceland and the Argentine international insists that it will be a proud moment for both teams as they look to entertain the assembled crowd.
“It will also be a great honour for West Ham and City to be the first English Premier League clubs to play each other in Iceland.
"We all saw how well Iceland did in the European Championships last year – they made a lot of friends and it is clear they are a nation who love football.
“We will be proud to represent the Premier League, and I hope we can give the supporters an entertaining match.”
Zabaleta, who was Manchester CIty's third longest serving player, after Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany, left the club at the end of the season after his contract expired.
