“GEORGE could become another Wayne Rooney or Paul Gascoigne.”

There was never any danger of Archie Christie underselling the potential of one-time City wonder kid George Green.

Christie, who passed away in January last year, was the driving force behind the then 15-year-old’s move from Valley Parade to Everton.

In his short-lived reign as City’s head of football development, the larger-than-life Scot will be best remembered for three deals.

There was the £100,000-plus he squeezed out of Manchester United for loan fees on Tom Cleverley and the ultimately hugely-pricey mistake from the Mark Stewart soap opera.

But then there was Green, the Dewsbury teenager that Christie described as one of the hottest teenage talents he had ever watched.

The Premier League club this week let him go after deciding against renewing his contract. The wonder kid became just another addition to the mountain of free agents.

Wind back to 2011 when Christie excitedly badgered his pal Harry Redknapp to have a look at Green playing for Tottenham – and the midfielder duly obliged by scoring a hat-trick in the hastily-arranged trial game at their training ground.

City saw pound notes in their eyes but pushed Green towards Everton rather than Spurs.

It meant less money at first but the thinking behind it seemed sound, given the Goodison reputation for giving young players their opportunity.

Rangers were also said to be keen. Christie even claimed he had been sounded out by Bayern Munich, though that was more of a marketing ploy to drum up the domestic interest.

The deal with Everton was agreed on the morning of a Merseyside derby where Green was introduced to Toffees boss David Moyes.

There was much fanfare at this end - “It is one of the highest ever for a 15-year-old from a League Two club,” said Christie.

Everton, understandably, showed more restraint and simply talked about “potential” and how much Green had to learn. They were wise to be cautious.

In line with other contracts involving promising youngsters moving away, City had structured the deal with bonuses and incentives.

There would be further windfalls for appearances, new contracts, possible international appearances and a bumper sell-on clause from any future transfer fee.

Ticking every box would have earned City a possible £2m jackpot.

Instead, they pocketed £300,000 – around £250,000 when the deal was first inked and a further £50,000 after Green signed his senior contract.

A nice little earner, nonetheless, if no seven-figure pay-out for the “next Rooney”; Green, like so many upcoming young players before him, has found the transition from talented teen to the real deal at senior level a tough one.

He did make the first-team breakthrough last season but that was across the other side of the Mersey on loan at Tranmere.

Green showed flashes of his ability with one cracking goal but relegated Rovers’ fate at the bottom of League Two had pretty much been decided by the time he arrived.

So there will be no Premier League bow, for now at least. Green will have to rebuild at a lower level.

There has understandably been a clamour among some City fans for that to happen back at Valley Parade. Green’s name is not thought to be on Phil Parkinson’s list at the moment but things can change.

His fledgling career may not be going full circle – for now at least – but Green will be keen to start again away from the headlines and the hype.

The expectations, wherever he goes next, are likely to be more realistic and achievable.