GARY NEVILLE has claimed he was told a year ago why Manchester City were willing to allow Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus to leave.
The attacker duo had been a key part of the club’s success in recent years under Pep Guardiola.
Sterling in particular had been a huge player for City, scoring more than 100 goals and winning 10 major trophies in his seven seasons.
Regardless, with his contract running down, the England star joined Chelsea for £50m.
Meanwhile Jesus also left for a top six rival, reuniting with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.
City replaced the duo with Erling Haaland, who’s taken to the Prem like a duck to water and unknown youngster Julian Alaverz, who’s already shown his potential for both club and country.
The 22-year-old has scored seven goals in all comps in fewer than 890 minutes since making the summer move.
Meanwhile, the striker has also shone on the international stage, scoring four goals to help Argentina reach the World Cup final.
Such is Alvarez’s form, he’s on course to start the showpiece against France.
And Neville reckons he’s the exact reason they allowed Sterling and Jesus left.
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He told Sky Sports’ World Cup podcast: “I was told a year ago when City let Jesus and Sterling go – because I was quite surprised that City let both go at the same time – that this kid [Alvarez] was the reason.
“Someone said that to me, that is quite close to City, that he was the reason and they didn’t want to block his path.”
