Manchester City stars get up close and personal with koalas as they take a break during pre-season tour of Australia

  • Manchester City are on pre-season tour of Australia, with Raheem Sterling having flown out to join them
  • Vincent Kompany, Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas and Bacary Sagna took a break to get cuddly with koalas
  • Manager Manuel Pellegrini also got up close and personal with the animals on the Gold Coast
  • City will play Real Madrid, Roma and sister club Melbourne City as they continue their preparations

Manchester City took some time away from their preparations during pre-season to enjoy some time with the local wildlife.

City are currently on a tour of Australia, and manager Manuel Pellegrini, along with players Bacary Sagna, Jesus Navas, Sami Nasri, Vincent Kompany and Edin Dzeko, spent some time acquainting themselves with koalas as they took a break from training. 

Pellegrini and Nasri both went as far as to hold the animal and appeared to be enjoying their time as they smiled with the koalas holding onto them.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini gets up close and personal with a koala during the pre-season tour of Australia

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini gets up close and personal with a koala during the pre-season tour of Australia

Jesus Navas was among the players to spend some time with the animals, which were brought in by Dreamworld Theme Park

Jesus Navas was among the players to spend some time with the animals, which were brought in by Dreamworld Theme Park

Bacary Sagna checked out his new companion as City's players took a break from their training sessions on the Gold Coast

Bacary Sagna checked out his new companion as City's players took a break from their training sessions on the Gold Coast

Striker Edin Dzeko is all smiles as he watches one of the koalas climbing a makeshift tree in the training base 

Striker Edin Dzeko is all smiles as he watches one of the koalas climbing a makeshift tree in the training base 

Me and my new best friend 😜🐨🇦🇺

A photo posted by Samir Nasri (@samnasri8) on

The koalas were brought in to City's training base on the Gold Coast by the Theme Park Dreamworld, which is based in Queensland and has a wildlife park. 

Nasri was clearly pleased with his new companion, as he posted a picture to his Instagram page of him holding the animal, and captioned it: 'Me and my new best friend'.

Vincent Kompany also seemed to be enjoying himself as he stroked another of the koalas while wearing a more casual club t-shirt. 

There was no let off from training though, as they prepared for matches against Real Madrid, Roma and sister club Melbourne City with another training session. 

Vincent Kompany looked relaxed as he dressed down slightly in a more casual club t-shirt while stroking one of the animals

Vincent Kompany looked relaxed as he dressed down slightly in a more casual club t-shirt while stroking one of the animals

Joe Hart gets some practice in during a training session after the players returned to the football pitch to be put through their paces

Joe Hart gets some practice in during a training session after the players returned to the football pitch to be put through their paces

Fellow goalkeeper Richard Wright watches with a ball under his arm as the players get practice in ahead of their pre-season matches

Fellow goalkeeper Richard Wright watches with a ball under his arm as the players get practice in ahead of their pre-season matches

Dzeko winks at the camera before he prepares to train as City stepped up their Premier League preparations on Australia's Gold Coast

Dzeko winks at the camera before he prepares to train as City stepped up their Premier League preparations on Australia's Gold Coast

£49million new boy Raheem Sterling was not among those training, but he has flown out to join his new team-mates after he signed a five-year contract worth £180,000 a week. 

City's stars have already been put through their paces on exercise bikes, in yoga and with training drills as they gear up for the new Premier League season and an attempt to take the title.

They secured a 2-0 win in a pre-season match played behind closed doors at the nearby CBus Stadium in Robina, but will face sterner tests in the coming days. 

Pellegrini looks on during training which has previously included exercise bikes, yoga and other drills as they prepare for the season

Pellegrini looks on during training which has previously included exercise bikes, yoga and other drills as they prepare for the season

Yaya Toure wears a heart monitoring vest as he walks out to participate in one of the training sessions 

Yaya Toure wears a heart monitoring vest as he walks out to participate in one of the training sessions 

Bacary Sagna is among those hoping to impress during pre-season, with City facing games with Real Madrid, Roma and Melbourne City

Bacary Sagna is among those hoping to impress during pre-season, with City facing games with Real Madrid, Roma and Melbourne City

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