Real Madrid’s squad include five senior players who were there when Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was at the Bernabeu in 2009/10. Most of them should greet him warmly, writes Ian Hawkey.
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo joined Madrid the same summer as the new manager, and he did so as the most expensive footballer in history. Pellegrini duly made him the most important striker, ahead of then captain Raul. In spite of a period out injured, Ronaldo scored 33 goals in 35 matches.
Karim Benzema
Benzema was just 21 when he signed from Lyon in the same summer as Ronaldo and Pellegrini came to Madrid. He struggled to impose himself and made almost as many appearances from the bench as in the starting XI, overshadowed up front by Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain.
Pepe
The rugged defender entered 2009/10 in disgrace. He was still serving part of a 10-batch domestic ban for an ugly assault on a Getafe player from the previous season. Pellegrini gave him a clean start. He then suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the second half of the campaign.
Sergio Ramos
The current Real Madrid captain and centre-half rose in the hierarchy under Pellegrini. He established his versatility, often used as a right-back rather than in the middle of defence. That helped him establish himself in the Spain national team, at their successful 2010 World Cup, as a full-back.
Marcelo
The Brazilian has much to thanks Pellegrini for. His second full season as a Real Madrid marked a breakthrough, Pellegrini making use of his attacking qualities and his eye for a precise pass often employing him in midfield. He has since made the left-back position his own.
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