Iker Casillas believes Manchester City have replaced one elite club as Real Madrid’s European rivals.
Considering City have only been in the Champions League for 12 years, the fact that a Los Blancos legend of Casillas’ status has made such a claim is remarkable.
Ultimately, the Spanish icon’s admission is a testament to how far the English giants have come, especially during Pep Guardiola’s reign.
It seems like the contest between Manchester City and Real Madrid on Tuesday is set to be the most-watched game in the world.
Of course, Arsenal and Bayern Munich also face off at the same time in what is a mouthwatering contest between two massive clubs.
But the Sky Blues and Los Merengues are arguably the two best two teams in the world and the teams who have won the Champions League in the last two editions of the competition.
As a result, one can understand why neutrals in particular would be rubbing their hands are the prospect of both teams locking horns with each other.
Iker Casillas makes interesting Man City claim ahead of Real Madrid clash
Ahead of the contest, Antonio Rudiger admitted that Real Madrid must be wary of the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.
While Rodri hinted at the fact that City must try to keep Toni Kroos quiet.
The names on display virtually guarantee that the contest at the Santiago Bernabeu is set to be box-office.
Last season, while a 1-1 scoreline in the first leg might suggest it was a cagey game, there was plenty of quality on offer from the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Vinicius Junior, Ruben Dias and Eduardo Camavinga.
Once again, the same is expected as City will be hoping to earn their second victory in the Spanish capital in Europe’s elite competition.
Ahead of the contest, Casillas has made a huge claim.
As Iker Casillas believes Manchester City have taken Bayern Munich’s place as a massive rival of Real Madrid in Europe now.
“Manchester City has replaced Bayern Munich in the European rivalry that existed with Real Madrid and in recent years, they are the ones who have taken over that place”, he told Relevo in an interview.
“They are the two best teams in the world in my modest opinion and they have been facing each other in the Champions League for years, it is going to be a beautiful tie.”
Pep Guardiola must be beaming with pride
If Pep Guardiola hears the claim made by Real Madrid hero Iker Casillas about Manchester City, he is likely to be overjoyed.
When Guardiola joined City in 2016, the club were associated with perennially failing in Europe and cut to the present and one of Los Merengues’ best-ever players considers his side as his former team’s European rival.
Such an admission is a sign of how the Catalan has managed to transform Manchester City into a club that feels like they belong amongst Europe’s very best nowadays.
It has been a gradual and often painstaking process but Pep Guardiola’s perseverance has paid off.