Pep Guardiola may not be publicly worried about Raheem Sterling being pictured with a Real Madrid shirt, but the Manchester City manager knows the power that the Spanish giants wield in the world of football, Eurasia Diary reports citing iNews.

Sterling was interviewed by Madrid-based sports daily newspaper AS, just five days ahead of the two clubs’ meeting in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League in the Spanish capital.

The 25-year-old described Madrid as a ‘fantastic club’ and was full of praise for their manager Zinedine Zidane.

Having played and managed Barcelona, Guardiola is well aware of the power Madrid have over the world’s best players, even though he has no doubts about Sterling’s commitment to City, with the player under contract until 2023.

“All the clubs have to know that when Real Madrid or Barca knock on the door the other clubs must tremble,” he says.

“They will be in a little bit of trouble. Barcelona and Real Madrid are maybe the strongest and most powerful teams in terms of history and how good they are.

“That is normal and I understand completely. But on the same point, you just see the commitment from Raheem, every single day when he arrives.

“His commitment in every game, offensively and defensively, he is one of the best players in the world and it’s normal that big clubs see his desire for the team.

“I don’t know if Madrid or Barcelona called his agent, but I don’t have any doubts about his commitment from the first day to the last day that Raheem and other ones have had, and will have until the end.”