Manuel Pellegrini has backed Kelechi Iheanacho to enjoy further success at Manchester City after the teenage striker netted in his manager s farewell 1-1 Premier League draw at Swansea City.
Iheanacho s 14th goal of an impressive breakthrough season gave the visitors an early lead at the Liberty Stadium but they were pegged back by Andre Ayew s free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
Top scorer Sergio Aguero and Iheanacho were both culpable for spurning chances to secure a Manchester City win after the break but to all intents and purposes the point secured a top-four finish and entry into the Champions League for when Pep Guardiola arrives as Pellegrini s successor next term.
And the Chilean believes the incoming Bayern Munich boss will have an exceptional prospect on his hands.
I think he demonstrated how important he [Iheanacho] is, Pellegrini told a post-match news conference.
He is a very good player but he also must improve a lot. But a player of 19-years-old who scores so many goals and not playing all the games, I think has a brilliant future. I think all the fans of City will be delighted with him in the next years.
Sections of City s fanbase have criticised Pellegrini for not blooding other young prospects within an ageing squad this term, while Guardiola s decorated spell in charge of Barcelona won him a reputation as one of the premier developers of youth talent in football.
Pellegrini pointed to the fact that City remain in a relatively early stage of development following Sheikh Mansour s transformative 2008 takeover and believes the club s age-group sides are now moving towards elite level.
I think maybe in the next years you will see some players from the academy, he said.
It s not easy, you must remember that this club started a real process to be a big team in the last eight years.
So when you are trying to have a big squad, maybe at the beginning the young players must be a bit postponed.
But I think now they are working very well in all the young divisions. We reached the [FA Youth Cup] final against Chelsea this season, so I m sure with the way that this club wants to continue improving and growing in the future you will see young players in the first squad soon.
