Manchester City Legend Claims Club 'Will Miss' Raheem Sterling And Gabriel Jesus
From Manchester City's perspective, the summer of 2022 has been defined by a whole host of departures.
After becoming a Premier League champion for the fifth time, veteran midfielder Fernandinho departed the Etihad Stadium after a nine-year spell.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, a number of young players have bid farewell to the Sky Blues.
The likes of Gavin Bazunu, Romeo Lavia and Darko Gyabi may reunite with their former employers in the Premier League next season, as the trio have signed for Southampton and Leeds respectively.
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CJ Egan-Riley has linked up with Vincent Kompany to join Burnley, while Samuel Edozie is set for a switch to Bayer Leverkusen for £10 million.
However, the two most high-profile exits from City are Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, who have joined Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.
The former signed for City back in 2015 and, during his seven-year tenure in the north-west, he has arguably been one of the main factors behind Pep Guardiola’s dominance of English football.
With 225 goals and assists in 337 games across all competitions for City, the England international emerged as one of the world’s best wingers.
While the latter joined City as a raw prospect in 2017, he cemented his place in the first-team as one of the side’s most vital squad players.
Deputising adeptly as both a striker and a winger, Jesus’ versatility coupled with his hard graft as well as his big-game temperament made him a fan favourite.
As many have wondered whether the pair’s departure will hamper the Premier League champions, the one and only Sergio Agüero gave his two cents on the matter.
“Both players were important in the City scheme.
"I’m sure City will miss them a lot as they are great players.
"There will be a new make-up of the attack, but this is a team with a great squad that will be ready for new challenges,” he wrote in his blog for Stake.com, as translated and relayed by the Evening Standard.
Guardiola’s side seem to have been prepared for the forward duo’s exits, with the versatile Julian Alvarez deemed ready to cover both wide and central roles next season.
In addition, Cole Palmer is set to be granted a bigger role in the first-team as a winger while a certain Erling Haaland has also been added to the equation this summer.
While Sergio Agüero may be right about City missing Sterling and Jesus’ presences at times, the side is expected to largely continue to dominate proceedings.
Especially with a striker that's operating at almost a goal per game.
Topics: Manchester City, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Premier League
Srinivas Sadhanand