Pep Guardiola is surprised Raheem Sterling is mulling over his options at Manchester City, but the boss will not be offering the England international any assurances on game time.
Amid the long-running saga regarding a potential new contract for the 26-year-old forward, a revelation has been made that hints at a move abroad being made in the future.
Sterling admits such an opportunity would appeal with fierce competition for places at Etihad Stadium leaving him battling £100 million ($137m) man Jack Grealish for minutes under Guardiola.
What has been said?
Having discovered that Sterling may be tempted to secure a switch elsewhere, City boss Guardiola told reporters: “I didn't know it. I didn't think the club knew.
“Raheem is our player, hopefully he will be an incredibly important player for us. I don't know if he wants to play more. Riyad [Mahrez] doesn't play and he doesn't complain, Joao [Cancelo] too.
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“I cannot assure them, I cannot assure how many minutes each one plays. Always they have to speak on the pitch. Not Raheem, all of them. They know they are going to play minutes, all of them are involved. What I want from Raheem and everyone is they have to be satisfied to be here and delighted to be here.
“If that's not the case he has to take the best decision for his family. I was a player, I understand completely, I wanted to play. All of them want to play every game but I cannot assure them.
“They have to improve every training session and be there on the pitch.”
Torres update
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Another of the forwards battling under Guardiola at City is Spain international Ferran Torres. He picked up a knock while on UEFA Nations League duty and is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
It was initially suggested the 21-year-old would be missing for around six weeks, but Guardiola says a broken metatarsal could keep him out even longer.
He said: “Torres will be out two to three months. The rest are fit, Aleks [Zinchenko] and Ilkay [Gundogan] back. They trained this week and we're happy, delighted they are back.”
He added on Torres: “The injuries can happen here, at home, the national teams. It happens. I know the manager from Spain, he treats Ferran as best as possible, doesn't want him to get injured. They try to take care, sometimes it happens.
“It happened with Kevin [De Bruyne] and Phil [Foden]. Would be better not to but it happens. We move forward, and when he comes back and recovers after two or three months, try to be ready.”