Mateo Kovacic can achieve something with Man City that even Cristiano Ronaldo's not managed

When Manchester City fly out to Saudi Arabia this week to take part in the Club World Cup it will be a new experience for many of the club's players.

Pep Guardiola's side earned their place in the competition with last season's Champions League win, claiming an historic treble in the process. That feat came with a squad who have, for the most part, made their names at the Etihad and enjoyed their most productive years in professional football.

The City squad is littered with players who are at the peak of world football but haven't played for any other top teams. In that respect, Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain broke the mould over the summer when they brought in midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.

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The Croatian had already had a very successful career before he arrived in Manchester, playing for Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan. That experience could prove vital for City over the next week as they aim to finish off a year that will be forever etched in the club's history books with one more, final trophy.

And it is a trophy that Kovacic has already lifted. The midfielder was part of the Real Madrid side that won the Club World Cup in 2016 and then retained it the following year, and also the Chelsea side that won the 2021 edition after beating City in the Champions League final in Porto.

And, should City end up victorious, Kovacic will become the first player to lift the trophy with three different teams.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United and Madrid), Toni Kroos, (Bayern and Madrid), David Alaba (Bayern and Madrid), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea and Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona and Bayern), Xherdan