Raheem Sterling scores three minutes into Man City debut

“We didn’t expect this – it’s a game between AS Roma and Manchester City in Australia”, the Frenchman added.

Sterling, a skilful and quick attacker who joined Liverpool from Queens Park Rangers’ academy in 2010, is one of English soccer’s top young players and an established member of the national team after making his global debut in 2012.

Yes Mario – Liverpool is a family – but Sterling actively chose to leave it, and he now plays for a direct rival.

He was desperately unlucky not to create a second goal before being substituted at halftime, garnering no sympathy from Australian referee Jarred Gillett despite a forceful challenge from Alessandro Florenzi that took out the Englishman’s legs.

The forward took a tumble inside the first 60 seconds but went on to open the scoring less than three minutes into City’s 2-2 draw in a friendly match against Roma in Melbourne.

But his next contribution was much more like what City fans will hope to see regularly from the 20-year-old, as in the third minute he raced on to a fine through-ball by Kelechi Iheanacho and slotted past the goalkeeper from 20 yards out.

The Italians equalised just five minutes after Sterling s strike in spectacular fashion.

Balotelli then tweeted more support for Sterling, despite his acrimonious, £49 million ($76 million) transfer from the Reds to Manchester City earlier this month.

Samir Nasri has branded fans “stupid” for taunting Manchester City new boy Raheem Sterling on his stunning debut Down Under, writes Steve Bates in Melbourne. I’m very happy for him and for our team to buy him. He is a very young player so I think he will improve a lot in the future playing with Yaya, David Silva and Kun Aguero.

Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski both wasted presentable chances for the Bundesliga champions as they made it two wins out of two so far in China, while Roberto Mancini’s Inter side created few openings. “He has some physical problem from his holidays so I think it’s better for him to stay in Manchester and not lose the time coming back”.

“Its important to try and play with the style we want and I was especially pleased with the first 45 minutes”.