
Man City star who lost nine of 15 duels v Real Madrid surely won’t be at club next season
Man City suffered Champions League heartbreak at the hands of Real Madrid with a penalty shootout loss on Wednesday (17 April).
The two clubs played out a 1-1 draw in their quarter-final second leg clash at the Etihad, with the tie finishing 4-4 on aggregate.
Madrid then emerged victorious on penalties, winning 4-3 on spot-kicks to clinch a semi-final spot against Bayern Munich.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola will be disappointed by the nature of the defeat, but perhaps he will also have regrets over his starting XI.
Central defender Ruben Dias certainly had a night to forget, with the 26-year-old losing nine of his 15 duels as he played the entire match.
The Portugal international won just three of his seven ground duels, and just three of his eight aerial duels during his 120 minutes on the pitch.
Moreover, Dias failed to complete his only dribble attempt, was dribbled past once, committed two fouls and lost possession of the ball six times.
The Portuguese has been a superb servant for Man City over the years, with 174 appearances to his name since joining from Benfica in 2020.
Man City star could be sold this summer
But his time in Manchester may just be coming to an end, with Guardiola proving in recent times that he does not always need to rely on Dias in defence.
The centre-back has often watched on from the bench this season, with Man City boasting a long line of talented alternative options with the likes of John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji.
And there is, of course, also the presence of Josko Gvardiol, who was signed last summer for £77.6million.
Worryingly for Dias, the Croatian is only 22, and given his price tag, will undoubtedly be moved into his more familiar role at central defence in the near future, having shone at left-back since joining.
Moreover, Guardiola improving that area of his team further in the summer transfer window cannot be ruled out.
Given the hugely talented squad at the Etihad, no single star is safe, with the futures of many first-team players uncertain as the season comes to an end, even if Dias has often been handed the captain’s armband in Manchester.
The man in the dugout is in an unenviable situation, with stars such as Dias potentially exiting regardless of how the Premier League campaign finishes.
Winning the league title could convince the defender to stay for another campaign, but it could also force him into taking on a new challenge elsewhere.
Losing out in the title race meanwhile could encourage him to stay and bring back the trophy to the Etihad, but again it could result in an exit from Manchester.

Guardiola will undoubtedly have plans to strengthen other areas of his squad this summer following the Madrid defeat, with sources telling Football Insider in February that City have an interest in both West Ham ace Lucas Paqueta and Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz.
The midfielders won’t come cheap, meaning a high-profile exit will certainly be needed in order to fund such deals.
In other news, Man City are set to dominate with £500m+ budget under new Premier League rules, says Kieran Maguire
For more Man City and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.