Midfielder Samir Nasri’s 86th-minute goal on Saturday gave Manchester City a 1-0 win over its co-owned A-League side Melbourne City on Saturday.
New Manchester City signing Raheem Sterling, who arrived in Australia on Thursday, did not play. Sterling became the most expensive English footballer ever on Tuesday after joining Manchester City from English Premier League rival Liverpool in a move costing 49 million pounds ($76 million).
England winger Sterling told Fox Sports television before Saturday’s match, “I think it was a bit too soon ... I had just flown in, so obviously a bit of an injury risk.”
Sterling could still play in Australia. Manchester City has matches next week in Melbourne against Roma on Tuesday and Real Madrid on Friday.
