Pep Guardiola explains reason behind Manchester City selling now-Premier League star after no appearances for first-team | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained the reason behind Morgan Rogers’ exit from the club without a single first-team appearance.

The England youth international has gone from strength to strength having joined Aston Villa last February in a relatively surprising move from Championship side Middlesbrough in a deal that could rise to £15 million.

The move to regular Premier League football followed a trio of successive loan moves away from Manchester City and just over six months at the Riverside Stadium in the second division of English football.

Rogers had the ultimate opportunity to prove officials at Manchester City wrong over their decision to sell him without a clear pathway into the first-team squad earlier this month, putting in a stellar performance during Aston Villa’s 2-1 win at Villa Park.

Speaking in a recent press conference, Pep Guardiola has revealed that a poor case of right place, wrong time was the real reason behind Morgan Rogers’ lack of opportunities in the Manchester City first-team and subsequent exit for Middlesbrough.

“Sometimes it’s the right time and you can give the chance,” the Manchester City manager explained, “Everybody knows how good is Morgan and a lot of players that were loaned or sold from Manchester City, but in that age there are moments we had players we had that allowed us to create the most success in history of our club.”

He continued, “And in that moment, sometimes when they arrive they are two or three years younger. And in that moment there are Kevin [De Bruyne] in their prime, David Silva, Bernardo [Silva], Riyad [Mahrez], Leroy [Sane], Raheem [Sterling] and sometimes it’s difficult.

“It’s the only reason why. In that situation right now, of course these types of players would be with Manchester City! That is obvious. But it was in the right moment, that’s what happened.”

Given Manchester City remain in a period of hugely tumultuous form across competitions, many have looked at Morgan Rogers and other Academy products sold by the club in recent seasons as significant mistakes that have cost the club longer-term dominance.

Cole Palmer is the most common example that crops up in conversation on that very subject, with Manchester City selling the England international to Chelsea off the back of their Treble season for a £40 million fee.