New Hammer Zabaleta excited to face old City teammates in Iceland

New West Ham signing Pablo Zabaleta is relishing the opportunity to face his former club when the Hammers take on Manchester City in Iceland later this summer.

Zabaleta switched to the London Stadium on a free transfer at the end of the season, following a nine-year spell with City.

The two clubs will go head-to-head at the national stadium in Reykjavik on August 4, in what will mark the first occasion two English Premier League teams have played against each other in the country.

Just one week later, West Ham will travel to the red-side of Manchester for their season opener at Old Trafford, and Zabaleta insists playing the Red Devils’ rivals will provide the perfect preparation for the start of the new campaign.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“Of course it will be interesting to face my former club, so soon after leaving,” he said.

“But more importantly, I am looking forward to playing with my new teammates and it will be a great test for us one week before the start of the season.

“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.”