Raheem Sterling enjoys St Tropez before final Man City match

Raheem Sterling was in high spirits as he enjoyed a stroll by the ocean in St Tropez on Thursday.

The Manchester City player, 25, sported a black and gold printed shirt as he headed out for a walk with his pals as his club prepare to play their final game of the season on Sunday.

During the outing, Raheem bumped into Piers Morgan, who proceeded to poke fun at him following City’s loss to Arsenal in the semi-finals of the FA Cup over the weekend.

Raheem cut a casual figure in a black, white and yellow printed shirt teamed with grey shorts as he headed out in the sunshine with his pals.

The England ace appeared to be enjoying the French break, amid claims he’ll be rested during City’s final game against Norwich on Sunday.

Raheem’s outing comes after Piers Morgan poked fun at him as his beloved Arsenal knocked City out of the FA Cup.

Renowned Arsenal fan Morgan couldn’t resist taunting Sterling and posed for a picture with him with his thumb up before posting it on social media and writing: ‘Thumbs up who’s in the FA Cup final’.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side dumped Sterling and City out of the FA Cup after two Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goals earned them victory in the semi-final at Wembley last weekend. 

Sterling returned to winning ways on Tuesday by scoring twice as City thumped Watford 4-0 before jetting out to St Tropez to make the most of a short break in the schedule offered to players by manager Pep Guardiola. 

Sterling has headed for warmer climes, and is soaking up the sun on the French Riviera after City players were given Wednesday and Thursday off from training.

England international Sterling was spotted in the crystal clear waters while enjoying some down time.

The 25-year-old then had a stroll down the water front, passing by tourists who have slowly started to flock to the area following the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Sterling isn’t the only City star to make the most of a quick break, after defender Benjamin Mendy took to social media to show his 3.1 million followers that he too was kicking back on an idyllic beach. 

Both players are expected to be rested in the season-ending tie with Norwich, given City have already shored up second place in the league. 

Guardiola is understood to have given his players a short break before the concluding weekend of Premier League action, in order to keep intensity at an all-time high thereafter as City bid to finally win the Champions League.

The sky blues are set to power straight on through into the Champions League’s newly created tournament set up in Portugal, before getting stuck into pre-season preparations.

City currently hold a 2-1 lead over Spanish giants Real Madrid following their first-leg victory at the Bernabeu in late February.

As reported by Sportsmail, City will not rest between the Premier League’s conclusion and their huge European date with Madrid.

Guardiola confirmed that his players will continue training in the two-week period following the conclusion of the league and the Champions League tie, whereas Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has given his men time off to ‘disconnect a little bit from football’.

‘I’m so excited for preparing for the Real Madrid game and for the next season,’ said Guardiola this week.

‘When I lose this excitement and fire in me after victory and defeat, it will be a problem.’