Pellegrini: Everyone would want Ronaldo in their side

The Portugal international will sit out Saturday's
Rayo clash but is expected to recover in time to
take on the Citizens at the Etihad, and their
manager is wary of his talents
Manuel Pellegrini believes Cristiano Ronaldo
remains Real Madrid's main threat ahead of the
Champions League semi-final against his
Manchester City .
The Portuguese superstar has 47 goals in 44
games for Madrid this season, including a
phenomenal 16 in 10 Champions League
outings.
Ronaldo will sit out Saturday's Liga trip to Rayo
Vallecano due to a thigh problem, although
coach Zinedine Zidane insists the complaint is
"nothing serious".
Pellegrini coached Ronaldo during his time in
charge of Madrid in the 2009-10 campaign and
would view the ex-Manchester United forward's
absence as a considerable boost to City's
cause at the Etihad Stadium in next Tuesday's
first leg.
In an interview with Marca, when asked which
Real Madrid player he would like to have at City,
Pellegrini said: "Cristiano Ronaldo, without
doubt. He is a fantastic player and makes an
enormous difference to a game.
"You can criticise him all you want but he is a
true professional, a winner, a player who strives
every day. Everyone would want him in their
side."
One Real Madrid player who could conceivably
be lining up on the opposite side next week is
Spain international Isco.
The playmaker made his senior breakthrough at
Malaga under Pellegrini and the Chilean tactician
claims Isco agreed a move to Manchester in
2013 before Madrid came calling.
"For some players, it is a dream to play at
Madrid," he said. "Isco had agreed to play at City
but there were reasons not to.
"I don't want to analyse his motives but I
understand he wanted to play in Madrid.
"It is an experience which makes you grow, it's
a great team and you are always training with
the best players.
"It's very important to be training alongside
Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and, before,
Xabi Alonso every day."
Isco has struggled to hold down a regular
starting spot at the Santiago Bernabeu but
Pellegrini believes he would have excelled in the
Premier League.
"Isco would have achieved great things at City,"
he added.
"I've always liked technical, creative central
midfielders with the capacity to score goals,
such as David Silva, Samir Nasri and Santi
Cazorla.
"Isco would have had an important place here
but if coming to City would have made him
better or worse, that is not for me to say."