Pep Guardiola says Jadon Sancho "didn't want the challenge" of playing for Manchester City.
The 18-year-old left for Borussia Dortmund 18 months ago and has gone from strength to strength establishing himself as one of the brightest prospects in Europe.
Sancho has gone on to earn his first senior international caps and has emerged as an £80m summer target for Manchester United.
Guardiola is pleased to see him doing so well and concedes we'll now never know if he could've made a similar impact at City.
“He didn't want to take this challenge, this opportunity to discover if he was able to,” he said. “He decided to go there. So it's perfect. It's going well and congratulations on what he is doing.
“He is doing an incredible performance. He did incredibly well this season. What would have happened this season (here)? I don’t know.
“With the players, it depends on them and what they do on the pitch.”
Guardiola was speaking after learning his side will face Premier League rivals Tottenham in the quarter-finals of this season's competition next month.
"When you are in the position that we are right now, I've not many complaints. I'm pretty sure our fans know it," he added.
"When I spoke with my chairman, CEO, sporting director, the people here know and they give credit for what we have done in the last two seasons. At the end, that is the most important thing.
"After that, everyone can judge if it's a disaster. If we do not win the Champions League, our work for three seasons, every three days, is a failure or a disaster. I completely do not agree but what can I say? Accept it and move on.
"What's important is that the players, the club, the fans and the people give credit if we are consistent and humble and, in every single game, do what we have to do.
"But I have to accept it. We won a lot in the past and that's why people believe that is normal - but that is not normal."
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