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Not content with smashing Premier League records by the handful, Manchester City will set one at the World Cup!

The Blues will have a STAGGERING 17 stars performing in Russia, an increase of seven on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and the biggest contingent from one club in the history of the tournament.

That means that the Blues, for the first time, are the best-represented club at the finals, ahead of Real Madrid, whose 16 call-ups would have ben a record had it not been trumped by City.

The previous highest figure was 15, set by Arsenal in 2006.

While the call-ups are an honour, especially with home nation England picking four Blues, and favourites Brazil calling up Ederson, Danilo, Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus, there is another side to it.

City will head into the pre-season with a skeleton squad, and with all of their front-line stars involved in the tournament, apart from record signing Aymeric Laporte, their players will receive little rest this summer.

That could hand an advantage to Premier League rivals, who all have far fewer players involved.

Manchester United will have 11 players at the finals, while Tottenham have 12, and Arsenal and Liverpool seven each.



Liverpool, expected by many to be City's closest rivals next season, will actually have the same number of players competing this summer as Egyptian club Al Ahly – who provide the bulk of their national squad – and Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ahli.

City's World Cup stars

Brazil – Ederson, Danilo, Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus

England – Fabian Delph, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling

Germany – Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane

Argentina – Nicolas Otamendi, Sergio Aguero

Belgium – Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne

Portugal – Bernardo Silva

Spain – David Silva

France – Benjamin Mendy