Sterling won’t start for Man City Saturday

Raheem-Sterling;-Liverpool

Raheem Sterling (Tim Ireland/AP)

GOLD COAST, Australia — Manchester City won’t play new signing Raheem Sterling in Saturday’s match against sister club and A-League side Melbourne City on the Gold Coast.

Sterling became the most expensive English footballer ever on Tuesday after joining Manchester City from Premier League rival Liverpool in a move costing 49 million pounds ($76 million).

The England winger joined his new teammates in Australia on Thursday and trained with them on Friday morning.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini said Friday it was too early for Sterling to play in Saturday’s game, but he could feature in City’s remaining friendly matches in the International Champions Cup against Roma and Real Madrid in Melbourne.

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