Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney had claimed that Man City would destroy Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final meeting.

“Manchester City will not just beat Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final — they’ll destroy them,” Rooney wrote on The Times.

“Of course, I may be wrong. There is no side better at disproving arguments against them than Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid in the Champions League. But I just think City are so good that they’re on another level.

“Since the start of the season, I’ve felt this would be the campaign when Pep Guardiola would finally conquer Europe with City and the incredible football his team have played over the past couple of months — and the way they are peaking at the right time — has only strengthened that belief.

“A year ago, Madrid put City out of the competition at this stage but the dynamics are different now.”

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has now sent a message to Rooney.

“Rooney said City will destroy us? They said the same last season. Then we won the Champions League. This doesn’t affect us. We are already enough motivated,” Toni Kroos has said at the presser ahead of the Champions League clash against Manchester City.