Since Pep Guardiola’s appointment in 2016, Manchester City have started to become one of the clubs which could be considered the holy grail for a majority of players in world football.
Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo compared Manchester City to Real Madrid and revealed “everyone dreams” of signing for a club like them nowadays.
Before Pep Guardiola’s presence at City, they were merely one of the biggest clubs in the world.
But having dominated the Premier League in unprecedented fashion and won the Champions League as well under Guardiola in their treble-winning season, Manchester City have cemented their spot as an elite club.
The Catalan has brought a level of success to the Etihad Stadium that could impact how future generations view City as an institution.
Apart from Pep Guardiola, superstar names like Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Rodri and Erling Haaland deserve massive credit for flying the club’s flag high for fans and pundits across the world to witness and admire globally.
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Jamie Carragher says Kylian Mbappe would not even be linked with Man City transfer
As a result, the Sky Blues instantly become one of the most attractive destinations for most players in the game every transfer window.
However, City have a pick of the bunch from some of the biggest and best talents to scour through every season.
But Jamie Carragher claimed on CBS Sports that one player who would not even be rumoured to sign for Manchester City is Kylian Mbappe due to being at a club of the stature of Real Madrid.
“Obviously, you’re [Thierry Henry] talking about the development stage for players and coaches. When you go back to the most European trophies, we think of Real Madrid and Barcelona, Valencia won the UEFA Cup 20 years ago but it’s mainly those two clubs. I think what helps those two, I think most players in world football see those two clubs as a final destination.”
“I think even when you look at someone like [Erling] Haaland, for instance. He’s arguably at the best team in Europe, he’s scoring all kinds of goals. But he would still get linked to Real Madrid. [Kylian] Mbappe’s now joined Real Madrid, he wouldn’t be linked with Man City.”
In March, it was reported that Pep Guardiola tried to bring Mbappe to Manchester City by speaking to the devastating forward personally when he was still an AS Monaco player in 2017.
However, the Frenchman decided to join Paris Saint-Germain and this summer, he signed for Real Madrid.
Man City owners were targeting Mbappe-Haaland duo with mega-transfer
In November last year, it was claimed Manchester City’s owners were keen on pairing Mbappe with Erling Haaland by signing him before he headed to Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
It was also stated that the owners at City found the prospect of the pair playing in tandem as “tempting.”
Furthermore, it was revealed that Manchester City had the finances to fund a mega-transfer involving the Frenchman.
However, their reported dream did not come to reality.
Haaland and Mbappe could be facing each other in the Champions League if Manchester City and Real Madrid are destined to meet each other in the knockout rounds this season.
Whether Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti’s respective sides will come out on top will be fascinating to witness if they lock horns in Europe for a fourth season in a row.
The contest between both sides has become the most anticipated game in European football over the past few years.
