Ronaldo and Pep rivalry reignited by Kovacic 'plan'

GUARDIOLA SET TO THWART SAUDI MOVE, SAY REPORTS

- HARRY BRENT

PEP Guardiola is reportedly set to thwart any plans Cristiano Ronaldo may have had of luring Mateo Kovacic to Saudi Arabia.

Following Ilkay Gundogan's unexpected return to Manchester City last month, Kovacic's position in Guardiola's team appears to be under threat.

The former Chelsea ace, 30, was signed as Gundogan's replacement last summer, but with the German, 33, now back in the fray at the Etihad Stadium, Kovacic might have to settle for a place on City's bench.

As a result, Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr have expressed interest in the Croatian and are understood to have asked Ronaldo, who played with Kovacic at Real Madrid, to convince him to join.

However, according to reports, Guardiola, 53, doesn't want to sell the midfielder and is planning to block any exit.

This news will likely disappoint Ronaldo, 39, though won't come as a complete shock given how much of a thorn Guardiola has been in his side over the years. The pair have battled it out in England and Spain, forging an intriguing relationship borne from respect and mutual dislike.

In reality, they've always seemed like natural adversaries. After all, their philosophies are diametrically opposed. Ronaldo is a rampant individualist, someone who thrives on chaos and is unapologetically driven by hunger for personal success.

Guardiola on the other hand is a meticulous collectivist, a mathematician in suede shoes, obsessed with control and order. If Pep's football is geometry in motion, Cristiano's is a thunderstorm.