There is no room for sentiment under Pep

ONE of Pep Guardiola's first major moves as City manager was to replace club legend Joe Hart, in a ruthless act that showed who was boss.

- JOE BRAY

Since that summer of 2016, Guardiola has overseen more exits of popular figures, for various reasons. Some have left because Guardiola didn't want them, some had become too old, and others wanted to leave so were allowed to depart.

The common factor between 15 of City's most high-profile departures under Guardiola, though, is that the club is always put above sentiment, and if there is a risk to the harmony of the squad that risk is quickly averted.

Now, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus have become the latest victims of that approach.

After Hart was forced out in 2016, eventually leaving permanently two years later, City can put together a very strong 'starting XI' of players departed under Guardiola who were allowed to leave.