Real Madrid could use their Champions League tie with Manchester City as an opportunity to scout Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne up close.
That is according to Premier League legend and pundit Alan Shearer, who says City's UEFA ban could see their best players look to move in search of Champions League football.
City have announced their intention to appeal the two year ban from UEFA competition, although manager Pep Guardiola and some of his players have come out to publicly declare their commitment to the club, regardless of the outcome of the appeal.
Among those players are Sterling and De Bruyne, with Sterling in particular speaking about the possibility of playing for Real Madrid in the future.
It's important to say Sterling was clear that he has no intention of leaving the Etihad, but he did admit that playing for Real would interest him in the future. He has previously spoken about his desire to play abroad later in his career.
And Shearer wrote in the Sun that it would be no surprise to see the likes of Sterling and De Bruyne wanted by teams like Real Madrid.
He wrote: "It certainly wouldn’t come as a surprise if [Real Madrid] were interested in signing him.
"Sterling wouldn’t look out of place in their team - despite the stellar names Zinedine Zidane can call upon. His game under Pep Guardiola has gone to another level in the past couple of years. He’s added more goals and assists, while his all-round positional play is superb.
"Don’t forget he’s still only 25, so he should have his best years ahead of him.
"I don’t see the Champions League tie as an audition - he will want to put on a show regardless to help City into the quarter-finals.
"Yet you don’t need to be a genius to work out the impact of City being banned from Europe for two years if they fail with their appeal.
"Whether it is Sterling or another star like Kevin De Bruyne, it doesn’t matter what they may claim - they will want to be playing in Europe. Rival clubs will know that, too."
