Real Madrid strike first blow but Man City won't panic amid transfer circus

While in the geographical sense this is evidently not the case, it's hard to argue that City and Real have not become intrinsically linked in Europe. In fact, Bernardo enjoyed one of his greatest moments in a City shirt against his new club, as he tore through Madrid on the way to the Blues' historic treble in 2023.

So to see Bernardo in the white shirts of City's familiar foe next season is sure to sting. But that impact will be minute compared to the feeling if the 31-year-old is used to convince Ruben Dias to trade Manchester for Madrid.

Like a lot of the City squad this summer, Dias will be considering his future post-Pep Guardiola. The centre-back was undroppable in the first part of the campaign but a hamstring injury suffered against Chelsea meant he struggled to regain his place in the side. By the end of the season, Guardiola was treating us to a glimpse of the future.

New signing Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov held down the centre-back roles in his absence and continued to keep their spots upon his return. With Dias now 29, City are of course looking towards the future and preparing for life without him. But do not be mistaken - the Blues aren't ready to lose him yet.

City are already losing leaders in the dressing room this summer. Both Bernardo and John Stones were big voices in the squad and will be missed.

Rodri's future remains uncertain as he rightly prioritises the World Cup. The Ballon d'Or winner has continuously been linked with a move to the Bernabeu and he has suggested this season that he would be open to this transfer in the future.

Realistically, City have no more than a year left with the midfielder, as things stand. Losing Dias as well would leave the Blues scrambling for leaders in this squad.

Dias will be under consideration for the City captaincy this summer and were he to go, there would be a lack of alternatives. While all this seems concerning, City will not be panicking.

Bernardo joining Real does not necessarily mean we are set to see a mass exodus of stars joining him in the Spanish capital. Madrid are no strangers when it comes to the dark arts of transfers.

They have made no secret of their admiration for Rodri. Likewise, a summer does not go by without them claiming they are imminently going to sign Erling Haaland.

Josko Gvardiol was the latest name to be added to that wishlist but he is now set to sign a new long-term contract at the Etihad Stadium. City still have a lure. They will be confident, particularly after Haaland and Gvardiol's commitments to the club, of fending off an approach from Real for Dias, were it to arrive.

City want to keep Dias and if they can sell him their vision for his future, they will be confident he will sign up to it. Bernardo moving to Madrid does complicates things but the Blues won't be worrying just yet.