Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that the Etihad Stadium outfit have allowed fringe attacker Stevan Jovetic to leave the club and sign for Italian giants Inter.

For the Montenegro international, a switch to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is an ideal opportunity to resurrect a career that has stagnated over two underwhelming campaigns in England.

Over the space of 24 months with City, Jovetic managed to start only 11 Premier League games, with the forward leaving the club having netted eight league goals.

For the Etihad Stadium fans, the 25-year-old’s departure will not be overly concerning given the stellar cast of attacking talent at Pellegrini’s disposal.

However, it really could have been so much different for the former Fiorentina attacker, who arrived with so much promise but showcased only a fraction of his considerable ability in his two years in England.

The Podgorica-born man has all the attributes that an attacking team like City look for in a new signing; supremely technically gifted, creative, versatile and possessing footballing intelligence.

Upon his departure Pellegrini stated that Jovetic was one of the best footballers that he had ever worked with, but that injuries were the driving force behind an exit from the club.

The Montenegrin broke into the Partizan Belgrade team as a fresh-faced 16-year-old and was quickly being touted as one of the brightest prospects in European football.

Fiorentina snapped him up as a teenager and brought him to Italy, with the skilful forward developing into a top-class player at the Stadio Artemio Franchi over five years.

Jovetic continued to get better and better as the years passed with him in the Viola shirt, with the 2012-13 campaign in particular highlighting his ability as one of the most exciting stars in Serie A.

When City splurged £22million on the star it was seen as a shrewd piece of business by most, with the Manchester-based outfit beating a handful of top clubs to Jovetic’s signature.

The Montenegro international was an ideal addition to the attacking ranks at City because of his versatility, with Jovetic able to operate as either the furthest man forward or as a number ten in a support role.

Injuries right from the start of his tenure in the United Kingdom blunted the potential for momentum to be built, while any player that signs for a club like City must be at their very best to get a regular starting berth in the team.

The presence of Sergio Aguero as the team’s first-choice centre forward and David Silva as the main playmaker meant that Jovetic was always going to face an uphill battle to play consistently, but it was the injuries, not a lack of ability, that prevented him from playing a more prominent role during his two years at the club.

It is likely that Pellegrini will be looking for a replacement for Jovetic; the irony is that someone of similar style, ability and profile would be ideal.