Manuel Pellegrini believes Raheem Sterling's speed and versatility hold the key to him making a success of his big-money move to Manchester City.
Sterling joined his new team-mates in his first City training session on Friday after flying to Australia to join their pre-season tour, and Pellegrin reckons the England forward can make a big difference for City.
“I think that Raheem can play in different positions — he can play as a forward because he has a lot of speed or he can play also on the wing,” Pellegrini said on the club’s website.
“He’s a very young player so he has a lot of things to improve. I think it’s important for him to have a new challenge in our team where he will play with great players which will improve his game. He will also improve us as a team.
"I think that Raheem has already demonstrated what he can do as a player at Liverpool but he's just 20 years old so he has a lot of things to improve.
“It will depend how he works over the next few years but I am sure he will be very important in our team, especially for his speed.”
Pellegrini said Sterling will sit out Saturday's match against sister club Melbourne City after his late arrival, but he will feature soon with matches against Roma and Real Madrid to follow during the tour.
Hefty fee
The size of the fee City ended up paying for Sterling — almost twice their original offer earlier in the summer — raised eyebrows, but Pellegrini said it was a reflection of the market.
“We must continue to have a competitive team,” he said.
“I always say there are four or five important teams, so if you don’t improve every year it’s very difficult.
“The price is so difficult to see — it depends on the performance of the player in the next years. Every time you need a player the price is very high — not just for City, but for every team.
“The price is not the most important thing — the most important thing is to choose the player you need.”
City captain Vincent Kompany also welcomed Sterling to the club.
“I’d rather play with him than against him,” the defender said.
“He’ll fit in really well in our team — everyone in our team is buzzing that we’re getting such a good player in our team. Whatever he needs, we’ll be there to help him.
“I can guarantee you he’s going to feel at home very quickly here and we’re all eager to see him perform like he can.
“Raheem has proven so many times that he’s an incredible talent and he’s been welcomed like he should be.”
Meanwhile Sterling's former club Liverpool were helped to their second pre-season victory on Friday by some excellent performances by youngsters Jordan Ibe and newly signed teenager Joe Gomez.
Liverpool youngsters
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Gomez will have a chance to make his mark at Liverpool next season confirming the defender will not be loaned out.
The 18-year-old is one of six signings Rodgers has so far brought to Anfield this summer, moving from Sky Bet Championship side Charlton.
Gomez only made his senior Addicks debut last August but having impressed on the Reds’ pre-season tour of Australia, Rodgers is confident the versatile defender can contribute to his side right away.
“He’s staying,” the Northern Irishman told a press conference after a 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar.
“I’ve seen enough in this period; you judge young players, I always bring them in and over pre-season have a good idea of whether we’re going to keep them or not.
“Seeing him, in particular close at hand and his personality — he’ll be staying, he’ll get games.”
Gomez was deployed at left-back as goals from Adam Lallana and James Milner guided Liverpool to a 2-1 success at the Suncorp Stadium.
Rodgers revealed he had wanted to see the versatile defender on the left-hand side but believes he can slot him into numerous positions because of his adaptability.
“He’s only 18 years of age, but seeing him play at left-back for the first time, he looked an outstanding athlete and a really good footballer,” Rodgers added.
“I’ve seen him at centre-half and at right-back, but I wanted to see him at left-back — and I thought he was outstanding.”
Utility man
Former Manchester City midfielder Milner, another new recruit, was also singled out for praise after his 75th-minute strike sealed the victory against Brisbane.
Like Gomez, Milner has often been utilised in a variety of different positions but Rodgers selected him in his preferred central-midfield berth.
“We wanted more goals from midfield and you see James, that was the idea because when he plays in a central area he can really penetrate the box,” he said.
“He got in a number of times, had a couple of shots that went close and then he got his goal. He’s a top-class operator and I think playing in this team and at Liverpool he’ll probably shine even more.”
Milner’s move away from City was partly motivated by his frustration at being seen as a utility man.
But Rodgers thinks the finest form of the England’s international’s career came when he occupied the middle of the park at Aston Villa and sees a big role for him in the post-Steven Gerrard era at Anfield.
The Liverpool manager added: “He has played at right-back, wide on the left, wide on the right, as a striker, a midfield player — you always want players like that in your squad, but as a player you want to play in your favourite position.
“Probably the best season James ever had was at Aston Villa playing as a central-midfield player. He’s going to be huge for us and working close at hand with him I can see why he’s regarded as a top-class professional.”
