Man City’s amazing £153m haul from selling kids who made 33 starts combined
Phil Foden scored his first senior goal at the Etihad for his boyhood favourites during the 7-0 FA Cup rout of Rotherham.
At about the same time, his close pal and fellow starlet Brahim Diaz was putting the finishing touches to his move to Real Madrid.
The young Spaniard's departure was a blow for those who are keen to see more academy graduates feature in Pep Guardiola's first team.
Having sold England's Jadon Sancho to Borussia Dortmund 18 months ago, some are worried another one has slipped through the net.
Yet any disappointment is offset by the incredible amounts of money that City are making on the kids they bring through – and fringe players who never play.
Our stats show that City have moved on 16 players for big money in the last three years, with the outgoing group totalling just 33 appearances between them.
And the club have raked in around £153million in the process for them.
Eyebrows were raised when City splashed out more than £200m on the City Football Academy back in 2014 – but it seems to be paying dividends.
Here Sunsport looks at the players the champions have invested in and sold for huge profit.
(Figure is City's estimated value of deal. City starts in brackets)
Academy products
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester) £25.4m (City starts 20) Age 22
The Nigerian was tipped to become a Premier League superstar when he burst on to the scene under Manuel Pellegrini.
However Guardiola did not share his predecessor's enthusiasm and it came as no huge surprise when he was moved on.
Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid) £19.8m (4 starts) Age 19
City wanted him to sign a new deal at the Etihad – but he was concerned about his pathway to the first team – with all the wide players ahead of him. The chance to join Real Madrid was a huge pull for the young Spaniard.
Angus Gunn (Southampton) £13.5m (0 starts) Age 22
England Under 21 man was well liked at City but saw Pep spend big on Claudio Bravo then Ederson. Impressed during a loan spell at Norwich and that convinced Southampton to swoop.
Jason Denayer (Lyon) £9.9m (0 starts) Age 23
Sent out on loan four times as City waited for the Belgium international to mature into a first team player – but it never quite happened. Performed well against City in two Champions League games for Lyon this season.
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) £9.1m (0 starts) Age 18
Starting to look like a bargain for the German giants. City lost patience when he stalled on a new contract and decided to sell him abroad rather than risk him shining for a rival. Starting to fulfil his huge promise and already in the England squad.
Pablo Maffeo (Stuttgart) £8.8m (3 starts) Age 21
At one stage it looked like he could succeed another Pablo Zabaleta as City's long-term right-back – but they eventually opted to spend big on Kyle Walker and Danilo.
Grew in stature in three separate loan spells with sister club Girona before a permanent move away last summer.
Rony Lopes (Monaco) £8.8m (3 starts) Age 23
Nicknamed 'Rony' because of his likeness to Brazil legend Ronaldinho, he scored a memorable FA Cup goal against Watford in 2013. Went to Lille on loan but then City decided to sell him to Monaco a couple of years later.
Karim Rekik (Marseille) £7.5m (1 start) Age 24
Dutch defender looked set to establish himself at City and started a Premier League game in December 2012. Had loan spells with Portsmouth, Blackburn and PSV Eindhoven before a permanent move to France in the summer of 2015.
Angelino (PSV Eindhoven) £5.6m (1 start) Age 22
The Spanish left-back was another who looked destined for the first team. In fact, had he stayed rather than joining PSV Eindhoven in the summer, he could be getting games now.
Instead after loan moves to Girona, Mallorca and NAC Breda it was decided to move him on.
Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) £5.5m (0 starts) Age 22
Spent five years on City's books after arriving from Le Havre but could not make the breakthrough. The midfielder, 22, had two spells on loan at Genoa before a permanent switch north of the border in July 2017.
Seko Fofana (Udinese) £4.2m (0 starts) Age 23
The Ivorian midfielder arrived at City from France in 2013 and was given his chance at senior level during his loan spell at Fulham.
A temporary switch to Bastia was successful and that persuaded Udinese to make their move in summer 2016.
Bersant Celina (Swansea) £3.8m (1 start) Age 22
Kosovo international midfielder came to the Etihad in 2014 and had to wait two years before going out for a loan spell with FC Twente.
Also impressed during a season at Ipswich, sparking a scramble for his signature which Swansea eventually won.
Plus…sold before they could barely put their bags down in Manchester.
Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield) £8m (0 starts)Age 28
Aussie international joined City from their sister club Melbourne City in summer 2016 and was immediately sent on loan to Huddersfield.
The Terriers loved him and made the move permanent the following summer.
Geronimo Rulli (Real Sociedad) £5.8m (0 starts) Age 26
Argentina keeper arrived at City in summer 2016 but was sent on loan to his former club Real Sociedad. The Spanish club did not need convincing and signed him permanently in the following January.
Larry Kayode (Shakhtar Donetsk) £4.6m (0 starts) Age 25
Nigerian forward joined City from Austria Vienna in August 2017 and was sent on loan to their sister club Girona shortly afterwards. However the deal was cut short and he joined Shakhtar Donetsk, making the move permanent last summer.
Enes Unal (Villarreal) £12.7m (0 starts) Age 21
City made a huge profit on the Turkish forward who joined them from Bursaspor for a reported £2 million in July 2015.
He played in the pre season tour but then was loaned to Belgian club Genk – before temporary stints at NAC Breda and FC Twente. Joined Villareal in May 2017.
Total £153m
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