You can't buy history! Jose in dig at City as champions monitor Ronaldo

Posted Friday, September 07, 2012 by Dailymail

Jose Mourinho admitted that Manchester City’s lavish spending might lead to Champions League glory but belittled his Group D rivals by claiming they will never be able to buy the history of clubs like Real Madrid.

City face Mourinho’s side at the Bernabeu in an eagerly-awaited opening game a week on Tuesday after the two clubs were drawn in this season’s toughest group alongside Borussia Dortmund and Ajax.

The rivalry has intensified after big-spending City were mentioned as a possible destination should Madrid’s unsettled star Cristiano Ronaldo decide to quit Spain.

You can't buy history! Jose in dig at City as champions monitor Ronaldo
Belief: Jose Mourinho thinks he will be able to keep Cristiano Ronaldo

Asked if he was worried about that prospect, Mourinho said: ‘We have the potential and history to keep our best players.

‘Madrid, Barca, Bayern, these clubs have unique historic capital – the trophies, the European Cups, the history, the fans. Things you cannot buy with money.

‘The best players will want to be at these clubs, the three I have mentioned and some others who have trophy cabinets full for almost a century.’

The former Chelsea boss admitted that Sheikh Mansour’s huge investment could be rewarded with a Champions League crown after Roberto Mancini’s team lifted the Premier League title in May.

But he warned that UEFA’s new Financial Fair Play rules will limit cash-rich clubs like City and Paris Saint-Germain.

‘Manchester City are powerful because they have players at the highest world level,’ added
Mourinho. ‘City are a team built to win the Champions League. The objective of the investment, made year after year, is to lift the European Cup.

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