English Premier League champions Manchester City will join Real Madrid in Melbourne next year as part of the International Champions Cup.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the two footballing superpowers during July, with a third team for the series of three friendly matches yet to be confirmed.

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Manchester City have been long rumoured to take part in the event, with Italian Serie A side Inter Milan likely to join them.

The Mancunians already have a stake in the Victorian capital after the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners purchased and re-branded Melbourne Heart as Melbourne City.

Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano said the club is looking forward to the trip Down Under.

“We are looking forward, once again, to being a part of the tournament,” he said.

“We are particularly excited to be visiting Melbourne, which is home to our sister Club, Melbourne City FC.

“We know that it will also be a home away from home for Manchester City and we can’t wait to play in front of our Australian fans.”