Here’s a prediction: Manchester City will not challenge for the Top Four in the English Premiership during the 2009-2010 season. In fact they probably won’t even challenge for the top five or six.

Here’s another prediction: Real Madrid will not win the UEFA Champions League this season. And they will not win La Liga.

We’ve seen it all before with Real Madrid. Same script. Same president.

When Florentino Pérez began assembling his (now famous) galáctico side in 2000, the football world was terrified. Pérez’s side would conquer everyone.

Immediate success followed in 2000, as Los Blancos won La Liga in the 2000-01 and 2002-03 seasons. And they won the UEFA Champions League in 2001-02. And after that?

Nothing. So much so that Real Madrid were annihilated 6-2 at the hands of Barcelona at the end of last season.

The first era of the galácticos saw Real Madrid adding one superstar a year:

• 2000 – Luís Figo (£38.7m from Barcelona)
• 2001 – Zinedine Zidane (£46m from Juventus)
• 2002 – Ronaldo (£26m from Inter Milan)
• 2003 – David Beckham (£25m from Manchester United)

They added a number of then second-tier players including Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate in 2004 and Robinho in 2005. Some say that the decline began when Beckham joined the squad, with what Steve McManaman later described in his autobiography as the “Disneyfication of Real Madrid”

The second era of the galácticos is decidedly different. Same president. Same idea. But not quite.

Since his astonishing return, Senõr Pérez has added four superstars in the same year:

• Kaká (€65m from AC Milan)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (€94m from Manchester United)
• Karim Benzema (€35m from Lyon)
• Xabi Alonso (€34m from Liverpool F.C)

And that was that. Now we have a team with some aging superstars, and arguably the four best players in the world. Of course they’ll win. Not so fast.

The Senõr was not done. He found a new manager too. Caretaker Juande Ramos was out of his depth (he was out of his depth at Spurs too). His predecessor Bernd Schuster was sacked very quickly. Of course Fabio Capello (he of England fame) did very well. But nothing beats Vicente del Bosque’s reign from 1999 to 2003, culminating in the of the prime of the galácticos. Not even Guus Hiddink could manage more than a season at Los Blancos.

The new manager who would lead Madrid to conquer the world? None other than Manuel Pellegrini (formerly of Villareal). His biggest accomplishment with the Yellow Submarines – a team with no superstars, arguably only one or two stars)? The Champions League semi-finals.

Call me when Real Madrid wins the Champions League.

Now, the joke that is that Manchester City fancy themselves the Richest Club on Earth. We’re told that they’re not afraid to offer £200m for players if they want them that badly. Some have been offered wages of £500000 a week. Maybe even £1000000. Who’s counting the zeros?

Their signings? Last year’s “massive coup” of Robinho for £32.5m hasn’t exactly resulted in fireworks. Not to worry. “Sparky” (Mark Hughes) has a plan. Just like Pérez.

Except, instead of Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, Mark Hughes has managed to sign:

• Roque Santa Cruz
• Gareth Barry
• Emmanuel Adebayor
• Kolo Touré
• Carlos Tévez

Hardly galácticos are they?

One player who can change a game and some steady workhorses (as well as some not-so-steady ones). Yes, Mark Hughes, you’re building a side to challenge for the Premiership title.

Call me when you finish below Fulham/Everton/Aston Villa/Tottenham Hotspur. All more-rounded and better coached sides than City.

Simple.