Manchester City legend Yaya Toure has explained how his former teammate Raheem Sterling has gone from struggling in Manchester to being 'complete' and deserving of the Player of the year.
Toure and Sterling were teammates at City for three seasons before the Ivorian was released last summer after eight trophy laden years at the Etihad stadium and he's seen Sterling mature into the player he is today.
The winger has grown into one of City's most important players and is only continuing to get better, having contributed towards 35 goals in 41 games this season.
The former City No.42 credits Pep Guardiola with the transformation of Sterling from a talented yet inconsistent attacker to one of the most influential and clinical players for both club and country.
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“He is a top manager. Pep is the type of guy who can take a talent and get it to its maximum level," the 35-year-old told the Daily Mirror.
“Raheem, my little brother, joined when Pellegrini was at the club. Since Pep arrived Raheem is in another world. He is complete.
“Pep has given him the confidence he has needed. When he played for Liverpool I was always scared of him because he is short and so fast, so quick! Him and Suarez and Coutinho? They were unplayable."
“But when he first arrived at City I had to ask myself when it was the right choice for him because he was struggling a lot.
“He had a lot of criticism and it was hard for him. But he continued to work and now he deserves the Player of the Year."
Toure also played under Guardiola at Barcelona and believes that he is improved other players at City.
“Pep came and improved him and Aguero. De Bruyne. Walker who was already a good player became different class. For players like that, as a manager Pep is fantastic.”
Toure has been without a club since he left Olympiacos in December after just two appearances.
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