Man City told what must happen for Erling Haaland and Rodri to resist interest from Real Madrid as club legend explains why Pep Guardiola staying at the Etihad could be the key to duo’s future

The lure of the Blancos is obvious, with Santiago Bernabeu having been home to some of the greatest players of all-time – including the likes of Portuguese sensation Cristiano Ronaldo, World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Brazilian striker Ronaldo.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Real have become famed for their ‘Galactico’ recruitment policy, with Kylian Mbappe ticking that box in 2024. There are many more household names registering on their recruitment radar – with speculation in recent times suggesting that City frontman Haaland and Euro 2024 winner Rodri are in their sights

  • WHAT DUNNE SAID

    Resisting the Liga giants is never easy, as they have a rich history of getting what they want, but former City captain Richard Dunne has – speaking in association with online bingo site, Heart Bingo – told GOAL when asked if admiring glances from Spain are a cause for concern: “It’s a huge club and everyone seemingly wants to play for them. They have got the lure of the history of what they’ve done, what they have achieved, they have got an unbelievable squad of players, and I’m sure it’s a great place to live. It is a real draw for all the top players in the world. Not just Manchester City, every club in the Premier League is hoping that they are successful enough, that players are looked after well enough, that they will stay.

    “The sporting challenge at Man City is the same as at Real Madrid – they want to win the Premier League, they want to win the Champions League, they want to win World Cups in the summer, all that stuff is the same. You just hope that Rodri and Haaland and any other big players have found a place that they realise they are in the top form of their lives and it can change when you move. They need to realise that they are working with Pep [Guardiola], someone who can develop their game and make them better, and hopefully that is enough to keep them at the club for a long time.”

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    DID YOU KNOW?

    Haaland and Rodri helped City to a historic treble in 2023. The former is fast closing in on 100 goals for the club, while the latter is considered to be a serious contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Asked if the Spanish midfielder is deserving of a billing as the “best player in the world”, Dunne said: “For me he is. Everyone goes for goalscorers and people that make assists, but football is about more than just that. Someone who can keep a team ticking over, someone that can make a team function better than when they are not in it, is special.

    “We have seen Man City, who are an incredible side, miss him last season. It was only a few games, but they did miss him. It showed the impact that he has on them. And the fact that he can go and do it with Spain, win the Euros, he’s so important to two of the best sides in world football and he’s one player that they probably both can’t do without. It shows the level that he is at and how impactful he has been on world football over the course of the last year.”

    WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

    Rodri is yet to feature for City this season, but Haaland has helped them back to the top of the Premier League table – as they look to extend a record-setting run of four consecutive title triumphs – and Guardiola’s men will return to domestic action on Saturday when playing host to Brentford.

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