CITY SPECIAL £13m man hoping for better times with Blues

NOLITO is hoping for “better times” in the future but isn’t certain they will be at City.

The Spanish forward started the season in sparkling form, slotting seamlessly into Pep Guardiola’s system and looking a steal at £13.8m.

As the campaign has gone on, however, his opportunities have diminished and he has become a fringe player in the squad in regular danger of missing out on matchday squads.

With speculation over his future, the former Celta Vigo star told Radio Marca Vigo: “I still have two years left on my contract with City.

“We will see what happens. What I desire and want is to play and be happy.”

Nolito was wanted by Luis Enrique at Barcelona last summer but was persuaded by Guardiola to choose Manchester instead. The 30-year-old insisted that he is “fine and calm” at the club, although he did talk up his former club – in contrast to his view on this year at City.

Celta’s president has expressed interest, but only if the player takes a wage cut.

While Nolito is staying positive, his lack of game time has made his first campaign with the Blues more of a battle than it could have been.

“I’m playing very little in the second half of the season,” he said.

“These things happen. I need to continue to work and try to improve. As I always say, the best is yet to come.

“I will continue to work and fight and I have to battle and be positive. God willing, better times will come.” RAHEEM Sterling has blossomed into a top-class player under the watchful eye of Pep Guardiola.

And former City star Trevor Sinclair believes the England winger’s Euro 2016 flop was down to a wasted year under Manuel Pellegrini.

Sterling became the scapegoat for unhappy England fans following their exit from the tournament at the hands of Iceland, after he had ended the season with City low on confidence and not a regular in the team

But Sinclair believes that the influence of Guardiola – who rang him during the Euros to assure him he would be an important player for City – has been key.

Asked whether Guardiola has made a difference to Sterling, Sinclair – himself a former England winger – said: “He has even made a difference with Jesus Navas, who is a 100 per cent player who gives you everything. A fit boy who can only be criticised for his end product – his goals and crossing into the box.

“Last summer when England were in the Euros there was a lot of criticism towards Raheem.

“I said then that he obviously wasn’t being coached well, and didn’t know his role in the team. I said we had to wait until the summer when Pep comes in, and you would see a change in the player.

“Everyone has seen that. And you talk to people who have worked with Raheem and they tell you that for all the fanfare that goes with him, his work rate is outstanding.

“You can’t fault a player like that. If they have that raw material, those ingredients, and want to work hard and improve on the training field, you have a great chance, and that is what Raheem is doing.”

Sterling has scored nine goals, against the career-best 11 he managed last season, but his assists have already more than doubled, from four to nine, with four games left to play. Sterling has gone a little flat recently and has been left out by Guardiola, but his all-round contribution has been evident.

“I heard him say recently that he has really enjoyed this season, and the stats are all looking better in his favour – but he still wants more, and that speaks volumes,” said Sinclair.

“He wasn’t happy with his performance in Monaco and when you are looking at that, and seeing where you could have done better, and go to train harder, it is a great ethic.

“That comes from the mentality of Pep – he is a leader and has made his players think differently about the game.”

Sterling was clearly unhappy under Pellegrini, who wanted his players to play a brand of onetouch, twotouch football, which did not suit the former Liverpool man.

Guardiola took Sterling to one side and told him exactly what he wanted to hear – he did not want him taking one or two touches, he wanted him to take the ball and go at defenders. He was assured that he would not be in trouble with the manager for losing the ball – only for not trying to make things happen – and he now attempts twice as many dribbles in a game than last season. “It’s picking your times, and knowing when to do it,” said Sinclair. “But when you get to that level, if you have that turn of pace, it’s not about good defenders or bad defenders, it’s about genetics. “If you can’t match me for that pace and it’s a one-on-one situation, you can’t do anything about it. “That’s when he wants Raheem to go and express himself, and if he does that more often than not he will be successful, as we’ve seen from his dribbling stats. “It’s about Pep recognising a player’s skill sets and telling him to use them for the benefit of the team. “It’s the Barcelona way – they don’t work at their weaknesses, they work on their strengths.” Trevor Sinclair