Luis Figo snubs Real Madrid when picking his favourites to win the Champions League

Luis Figo has snubbed former clubs Real Madrid and Inter when picking his favourites to win this season's UEFA Champions League.

Real Madrid are the defending champions in the competition, having beaten Liverpool in last season's final to claim their 14th European crown.

Despite that success, and their ability to sweep aside Liverpool with ease in the round of 16 this season, club legend Figo has picked Manchester City and Bayern Munich as his two favourites to win the tournament.

Speaking at the opening of a new campus of the Vicente del Bosque Academy, Figo said: “In the Champions League, you always have to count on Real Madrid, but my favourite is between Man City and Bayern Munich.

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"Inter have it a little more complicated and my level of favouritism for them is a little lower”

Real Madrid will face off against Chelsea in the quarter finals of the Champions League, and will face off against the winner of the Bayern - Man City tie if they progress to the semis.

One of Figo's other former clubs Inter are tasked with a tricky two-legged tie with Benfica - who have impressed in the tournament this season - before potentially playing either Serie A leaders SSC Napoli or inner-city rivals AC Milan in the next round.

Luis Figo's Real Madrid career

It's fair to say that Figo's move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 was a rather controversial one, and one that wasn't exactly welcomed by Barca fans who later threw a pig's head at their former hero upon his return to Camp Nou with Los Blancos.

Pig's heads aside, Figo enjoyed a successful five season spell at Santiago Bernabeu, winning two La Liga titles, one UEFA Champions League and a Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award.