Pep Guardiola has warned Real Madrid they face a daunting task if they plan to lure Mauricio Pochettino away from Tottenham.

The Spurs manager has repeatedly been linked with a move to the Bernabeu and is considered among the leading candidates to be Julen Lopetegui’s long-term successor.

Despite Pochettino distancing himself from the job on Friday, Real president Florentino Perez is expected to test Tottenham’s resolve again – possibly as soon as the end of the season.

Guardiola believes the Londoners should get used to their manager being in demand – but insists Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will not be bullied into releasing his manager.

“I think he is already a top coach,” said the City manager. “For many years he is training at a high level.

“He did an incredible job at Espanyol and Southampton and especially here at Tottenham. I have a lot of respect of the job he has done in his career so he is already a reality as a manager, no doubt.

“He has been linked many times with Real Madrid. He can answer that question - but I don’t know what happens. What I think is Mr Levy is not an easy guy to negotiate with.”

Lopetegui is coming under increasing pressure at Real, with Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte also linked with his job in recent weeks.

Mourinho dismissed such talk, claiming he wants to extend his contract at Manchester United, while Pochettino, also brushed aside latest speculation Real are planning a move for him ahead of Monday’s clash with City.

“I don’t have social media so I don’t receive much information,” he said on Friday. “That’s why my head, my face, I look younger than I am.

“Stuff like that happens in football. You can’t change anything.”