Insider’s view: Palermo v City – a friendly that will never be forgotten | OneFootball

Manchester City beat Palermo 3-0 on Saturday in a pre-season friendly at the Renzo Barbera Stadium, Sicily. One of our reporters has offered an insider’s view of a trip that will live long in the memory of those who were there.

We had been told before we left Manchester that the people of Palermo were excited about the pre-season friendly against City.

The tickets had sold out rapidly – more than 36,000 gone in 13 days after going on sale. This, we were informed, was the biggest event happening in Palermo this summer.

We knew the Palermo Ultras had something special planned: a banner with a message for the City fans, apparently an unusual decision for a group who rarely extend such warm feelings towards opposition supporters.

We had also had the pleasure of getting to know the Palermo staff in the buildup to the game. Our first time playing against our City Football Group sister club meant we worked closely to ensure we maximised the opportunity. A small but hardworking team, no job was too big or too small as they did everything possible to help us in advance of our departure from Manchester, their excitement palpable throughout the process.

And there was a trophy on offer – one with historical significance - the Anglo Palermitan Trophy, which commemorates the Sicilian club’s maiden fixture against a team of British sailors in 1900.

But despite all of this, nothing could quite have prepared us for the welcome we received after landing in Sicily.

Our departure from Manchester was delayed, which meant a hastily rearranged press conference with Pep Guardiola in a new location. By the time we were finished and ready to head into the city, it was close to midnight. But in the space of a few hours traversing the streets, we met so many Palmero fans… and the message each time was the same: they were delighted we were there, couldn’t wait for the game and wished us all the best during our time in their city. It was unusual to receive such warmth from opposition fans, but it felt good.

The night of the game, however, was special. The two hours prior to kick-off saw some of the most spectacular pre-match entertainment I’ve seen – lightshows, incredibly loud music playlist creating a party atmosphere and a performance by Italian singer-songwriter Rose Villain – all set against the most spectacular backdrop, with Mount Pellegrino visible from behind the stand opposite to where we sat. At half-time, there was a kit launch on the pitch, with club legend Javier Pastore on hand to model the new look.

But it was the Palermo fans who made the night truly memorable. Pep Guardiola was the first City representative to emerge, out of the dressing room early to inspect the pitch and take in the surroundings.

As he walked out of the tunnel, every single person in the stadium rose to their feet in loud applause. Guardiola, the architect of 18 trophies across a glorious nine-season spell in charge of City, had two short stints playing in Serie A with Brescia during the twilight of his career and it’s clear he is hugely popular here.

Indeed, former AC Milan striker Pippo Inzaghi, now manager of Palermo, spoke in glowing terms about the City boss at a Gala Dinner event the night before the game, describing him as the manager who ‘invented a new way of playing’.

The love was not just reserved for Pep. Soon after, the City players headed out to the pitch to start their warmup and, once again, the reception was rapturous. And it didn’t go unnoticed. A few players, including James Trafford who made his first start for City in the game, commented afterwards that the crowd inside the Renzo Barbera Stadium were brilliant.

But the standout moment came when the Ultras, sat to our right in Curva Nord, unfurled their huge tifo just before kick-off. It featured Noel and Liam Gallagher, dressed in Palermo gear, with the words PALERMO FOREVER in the club’s iconic pink hue. They had requested the stadium DJ play the Oasis song Live Forever as they revealed their artwork – intended to send a message to Manchester City fans that they were welcome in Palermo.

The noise the Ultras made throughout the game was phenomenal. They were exceptional from start to finish, with their passion and energy elevating the game to new heights.

It was a football trip that had everything: a beautiful city, an incredible atmosphere, a picturesque stadium and the warmest of welcomes.

If anyone is looking for somewhere in Europe to spend a few days in welcoming surroundings and watch some football, look no further than Palermo.

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