Sterling supports the participation of 550 students from the old school in the FA Cup semifinal

Raheem Sterling will provide 550 tickets for Saturday's FA Cup semifinal to allow students from his old school to watch the big game.

The generous winger from Manchester City knocked out Etihad Stadium staff by making the request before their 17:30 clash with Brighton and Hove Albion under the arch.

Sources told Sportsmail that as part of a joint operation with the British club, Sterling, 24, will meet students from the Ark Elvin Academy of Wembley at the City Training Center Thursday after their trip north from London. On Saturday, they will make the short trip to the stadium for the big game.

An insider said, "Raheem wanted to do something for the children of his old school and approached the club to see what could be done. They will come meet him, then they will watch him in action.

It pretty much sums up the kind of guy that he is. He has not made any stories about it and he does not really want to attract attention. It's just a decent thing to do.

Sterling, who left Jamaica to settle in England at the age of five, was raised on the St Raphael estate at Wembley. He went to Copland Community School, which has since been renamed Ark Elvin Academy.

According to estimates, 92% of school pupils belong to an ethnic minority and 36% would have free meals. More than 50 languages ​​are spoken.

City struggled to sell all of his tickets for the match. The Premier League champions have sold about 25,000 seats for their fourth trip to Wembley this season.

They had to return 2,000 additional tickets, sent in addition to their allocation of more than 30,000, to the Football Association.

The club says these are the most expensive tickets, with prices of up to £ 120, and that all categories of tickets remain on general sale.

Pep Guardiola's team played three matches in London in eight days, with a date for the Champions League at the new Tottenham Stadium and a trip to Crystal Palace after the semifinal.

Fans also claimed that the return to Manchester was a cause of anxiety after the 5:30 pm kickoff, with the last train north of London Euston scheduled for 21:24.

Saturday's clash will take place as they try to win four trophies this season. They beat Cardiff Wednesday to return to the top of the Premier League.