Liverpool great Phil Thompson believes Raheem Sterling will leave Manchester City when Pep Guardiola departs.
Sterling has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid after conducting an interview with Spanish media prior to the Champions League fixture against the La Liga giants.
He said: "Right now I’m at City and I’m really happy. But I say Real Madrid are a fantastic club, when you see the white shirt you know exactly what the club stands for, it’s massive.
"But at the same time, I have a contract with City now and I have to respect this. But it’s a fantastic club."
Furthermore, the England international recently admitted he still holds former club Liverpool in his heart and refused to rule out a return to Anfield in the future.
Thompson believes Liverpool should reject the chance to re-sign the winger and thinks Sterling will leave the Blues whenever Guardiola chooses to call time on his spell at the Etihad Stadium.
"I think the time for a return has gone," he told Sky Sports.
"I still felt he had a lot to do when he left Liverpool.
"I thought he was a good young player whose finishing could be better, and he’s become a great player.
"I would think that when Pep Guardiola leaves Manchester City, Sterling will move on.
"The way Raheem is, Real Madrid, Juventus or Barcelona – one of those super-clubs – will tempt him."
