Pep Guardiola: I didn’t want to sell him to Chelsea

Raheem Sterling and Pep Guardiola
Photo: Matt McNulty – Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images

Raheem Sterling sealed a £47.5m move to Chelsea, after seven years at Manchester City.

Sterling joined Chelsea with a rich CV. The England international scored 131 goals and provided 94 assists in 337 appearances for Manchester City.

Sterling won four Premier League titles during his seven years at Man City, and has played at a very high level for many years.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola has now admitted he had no intentions of selling Sterling to Chelsea, but had to do so because it was good for the player and the deal was fair for the club.

Man City decided against selling Nathan Ake to Chelsea, buy opted to sell Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Zinchenko.

“No [the transfers weren’t guaranteed to happen] because I was incredibly happy with Gabriel, Oleks and Raheem,” he said.

“If they stayed longer there would be no problem. They proved last year how good they are.

“But sometimes the players want more, and the club feel it is the right moment to do it. But the most important thing is they leave happy with the club and what they have done.

“Normally when you talk about transfers in Spain, Germany, England, it is 10 per cent more. It happens and we know it.

“It happens because they are really good. They are the best ages and their best years are maybe coming now. That’s why they have a value in the market.

“Chelsea and Arsenal have paid the money that is fair. And the discussions were perfect, Txiki [Begiristain] told me. Good for both sides and really friendly.”