Graeme Souness is a big fan of Raheem Sterling - and has compared him to Liverpool winger Sadio Mane after the ex-Reds player scored a hat-trick for Manchester City at Brighton last night.
City strolled past Graham Potter's team with Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva also on the scoresheet in a 0-5 victory.
Speaking on Sky Sports, via the Daily Mirror, Souness said: "Sterling is the real deal. He would be welcomed anywhere in the world – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich.
"Sterling is younger [than Mane]. They’ve got similar qualities, but Sterling is already at Mane’s level.
"Mane is a warrior and likewise any team would take him at the moment.
"Mane is up there at 28-years-old, Sterling is at 25 and there is still another three years before his peak years, so I’d have him slightly ahead."
Sterling has now scored 27 times for Pep Guardiola's side this season, including netting 17 in the Premier League.
Manchester City will discover whether or not they are allowed to compete in European football for the next two seasons on Monday morning at 9:30am UK time.
If their ban from UEFA is upheld, then speculation surrounding the future of players like Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne is likely to emerge, as well as the long-term future of Guardiola.
