Joe Hart: Ex-Liverpool ace Raheem Sterling can deal with being a marked man

JOE HART is confident Raheem Sterling will cope with being a marked man this season.

Manchester City’s £49million attacker has already seen what life is going to be like as the most expensive English player ever while on tour in Australia.

Sterling, 20, was labelled a ‘money grabber’ and booed by fans on both the Gold Coast and in Melbourne reacting to his bitter departure from Liverpool over the summer.

And he was also given a taste of the attention he will get on the pitch when the Real Madrid defence got physical in what was supposed to be a pre-season friendly at the MCG on Friday night.

The England attacker had a real battle with Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

But Hart insists the youngster is more than capable of holding his own if Premier League defenders try to do the same this year.

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“He fully expects that. He bounces off players and he keeps going”

Joe Hart

“Raheem got a bit of treatment from Madrid but that’s what he’s going to get,” the City goalkeeper said.

“He fully expects that. He bounces off players and he keeps going.

“He’s going to be a great player for us.”

City - who have travelled from Australia to Vietnam to play the country’s national side in Hanoi tomorrow – were given a real lesson against Madrid as they were thrashed 4-1.

And defender Bacary Sagna admits the squad need to learn the lessons of that embarrassing defeat very quickly if they want to be ready for the start of the new season in just two weeks.

“We didn’t respond well to the way they attacked or the way they played,” the Frenchman said of Friday night’s humiliation.

“We have to work hard because in two weeks the season starts, so we still have time to talk to each and communicate a bit more.

“When we are not synchronised on the pitch it makes it difficult.

“I think we still have some things to learn and get better, but I am confident in the team.”

City are expected to discover today the full extent of summer signing Fabian Delph’s hamstring injury that saw him carried off on a stretcher after just 18 minutes of his debut against Madrid.

The club are hoping it is only a grade two strain at most.

But even that would keep him out for at least four weeks and if the news is worse then the former Aston Villa midfielder could be sidelined until November.

Joe Hart backs Raheem Sterling to shine for Manchester City

MANCHESTER CITY keeper Joe Hart is confident Raheem Sterling will cope with being a marked man this season.

Manchester City’s £49million attacker has already seen what life could be like as the most expensive British player while on tour in Australia. Sterling, 20, was called a ‘money grabber’ and booed by fans reacting to his bitter departure from Liverpool this summer. 

And he was given a taste of the attention he’ll get on the pitch when the Real Madrid defence got physical in what was supposed to be a friendly in Melbourne on Friday – which the Spanish side won 4-1. 

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Joe Hart has backed Raheem Sterling to do well at Manchester City

The England star had a real battle with the likes of Sergio Ramos and Pepe, but Hart insists Sterling is capable of holding his own if Premier League defenders try to do the same this year. Hart said: “Raheem got a bit of treatment from Madrid, but that’s what he’s going to get. “He will be a great player for us."

Raheem Sterling at Manchester City: Can he thrive like David Beckham?

Can Raheem Sterling shrug off the abuse as David Beckham did in 1998?

Raheem Sterling has put himself at the eye of the storm but that need not be a bad thing, writes Adam Bate.

When you're the most expensive English footballer of all time, you're up there to be shot at. One can almost sense the nation's casual fans collectively folding their arms: Let's see what you've got then. The more invested are rather less passive when it comes to their views on Raheem Sterling.

The intrigue was evident in the numbers who rushed to watch the video ofSterling's first goal in a Manchester City shirt following the controversial move from Liverpool earlier this month. But the antipathy had been clear moments earlier in the reaction to his initial slip upon receiving possession.

"He got a bit of abuse for his first touch but Raheem's a quality player," said City boss Manuel Pellegrini after seeing his new player in action in Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Roma. "He's going to get a little bit of stick, but I think people will get bored of it when he starts firing goals in."

That might seem a forlorn hope but there is a precedent in an unlikely example. Sterling was a child living in Jamaica when David Beckham became the most vilified player in England for his sending-off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. Things soon got ugly. Effigies were burned.

Beckham was sent off against Argentina during the 1998 World Cup in France

There was already a backdrop of mistrust that had been evident when the Manchester United players were abused by England supporters in a warm-up game against Saudi Arabia, so when England boss Glenn Hoddle talked of Beckham's lack of focus in the tournament build-up, it fed into the stereotype.

Everything added to the public's sense that this was a petulant and pampered celebrity-footballer. It was a myth that Beckham set about exposing upon his return to the Premier League, starting with a last-minute equaliser against Leicester on the opening weekend. The tone was set.

Beckham became the target of abuse from rival supporters in the 1998/99 season

In United's treble-winning season, no outfield player made more than Beckham's 55 appearances and it was a year littered with magical moments. The free-kick against Barcelona. The FA Cup semi-final strike against Arsenal. And the assists. Seven in the Champions League alone before curling in those late crosses in the Nou Camp.

The season culminated in Beckham being named Champions League player of the year and finishing as the runner-up to Rivaldo in the Ballon d'Or voting. Vindication of sorts. "He's incredibly stubborn and single-minded is Becks," claimed Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville in his autobiography.

He’d worked so hard to get where he was and he wasn’t going to be deflected by abuse.

Neville on Beckham

"The word 'courage' is maybe overused in sport, but he showed plenty of it in the way he answered his many critics. He has incredible focus when it comes to achieving his goals. He'd worked so hard to get where he was and he wasn't going to be deflected by abuse." Sound familiar?

It was Sterling booed by England fans in their summer friendly against Ireland in Dublin. "He's so strong-minded, and it will make him a stronger person and make him better," said his then Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson. "He deals with it very well. I don't think he lets that bother him at all."

Sterling is driven. He's had to be to get this far. And while his oft-repeated mantra that he is "just focusing on football" might seem trite, that doesn't make it untrue. Sterling left Queens Park Rangers in order to help fulfil his potential and now that journey continues with Manchester City.

Nothing, it seems, will get in his way. It's been a recurring theme throughout Sterling's fledgling career. Asked if the laughing gas drama would distract his young forward, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers was emphatic. "He's a kid that's very strong-willed and strong-minded," said Rodgers.

He's a kid that's very strong-willed and strong-minded.

Rodgers on Sterling

For all the suggestions that Sterling was a victim of his agent's greed, character witnesses points to another explanation. "He's a really strong boy mentally," said Rodgers when the news broke. "What I know of Raheem is that he's a strong boy who is continuing to work hard. It hasn't affected him."

Sterling has some way to go before he can hope to emulate Beckham. Charity foundations, Olympic legacies and proposed knighthoods don't appear to be on the horizon just yet. In fact, a trophy would be a start. Nevertheless, there's a lesson in there somewhere.

Finding yourself at the eye of the storm might bring needless pressure. But top-level athletes have to be able to thrive on that attention. We'll find out plenty about Sterling's character as he runs the gauntlet over the course of the coming season. He might even find out a thing or two about himself.

"If it hadn't have happened, maybe I wouldn't be as strong as I am," Beckham told FourFourTwo in 2006. "[What happened in] 1999 was made more special because of '98, for coming through it." Maybe Raheem Sterling will have cause to feel the same way about putting himself in the firing line this time next year.

Raheem Sterling: Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez are both world-class

Raheem Sterling has become the most expensive English player in history, as he completed a 49 million pound move from Liverpool to Manchester City.
Raheem Sterling believes his new Manchester City teammate Sergio Aguero is the equal of his former Liverpool partner Luis Suarez. Sterling, 20, became City's record signing when he joined them for £49 million on Tuesday. The England international played alongside Barcelona's Champions League winner Suarez when the Uruguayan scored 31 goals in 33 league games for Liverpool to win the PFA Player of the Year and the Footballer of the Year awards in 2013-14. And he believes City top scorer Aguero, who succeeded Suarez as the winner of the Golden Boot last season, is a striker of the same ilk. "They are two players in the same category, both world-class players and can score from any moment in the game," Sterling told City's official website. "I am really looking forward to working with him as I did with Luis." Sterling did not win a trophy in his Liverpool career and said the chance to lift silverware inspired him to join City as he set his sights on becoming a Premier League champion. He added: "They have got world-class players and players I think are capable of winning things year in, year out. The team and the players Man City have got, they should be challenging for the title every year. This year should be no different." Sterling, who wore No. 31 for Liverpool, has opted to take the No. 7 shirt at the Etihad Stadium, which was vacated when James Milner left for Anfield. It is a number that acquired significance at his former club, where it was worn by Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Suarez, among others. "Over the years when you are watching football you see some great players and world-class players in the shirt," Sterling added. "It has always been one of my favourite numbers and I am glad I can be a player wearing that iconic number."

Raheem Sterling has the talent – but Manchester City need to see it every week

Raheem Sterling possesses the star quality to make Manchester City Premier League title-winners again and Champions League heavyweights, and he can have no excuses if he fails to justify his £49m fee


Raheem Sterling could prove to be good value for Manchester City at £49m if he plays to the potential he has shown at Liverpool. Photograph: Tim Ireland/AP

Raheem Sterling’s £49m acquisition is the instant reinvigoration Manchester City require. Since Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Sergio Agüero, Yaya Touré and Mario Balotelli arrived at the Etihad Stadium between 2009-11 the club has suffered a quality and glamour deficit.

Fernando, Fernandinho, Aleksandar Kolarov, Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic, Eliaquim Mangala, Jesús Navas, Jack Rodwell, Javi García, Scott Sinclair. The Sheikh Mansour sales receipts have too often been marked John Lewis rather than Harrods as a long list of middling rather than boutique purchases were made.

With Sterling to don the sky blue livery next season, City signal an end to this. The team is refreshed and renewed. This single transfer means the XI Manuel Pellegrini can choose will be injected with a desperately needed cocktail of pace, youth, flair, skill and rawness that make the 20-year-old second only to Wayne Rooney in the England hierarchy.

Yet for some the jury remains out. Is the kid merely a mercenary? A puppet of his agent, Aidy Ward, and a chancer yet to prove himself? Prime fodder for the “what has he ever done in the game?” merchants.

One answer to the last question is to have made himself an established international as a teenager and started England’s opening World Cup game at Brazil 2014 against Italy in the vaunted No10 position. To shunt Wayne Rooney out to the left as Roy Hodgson was moved to do to his captain is no shabby entry on the Sterling CV. To rip apart Manchester United at Old Trafford when asked to play as a trequartista for virtually the first time as Sterling did in Liverpool’s 3-0 victory at Old Trafford two seasons ago is also no skeleton in the career closet.

That afternoon of 16 March 2014 was when the former Queens Park Rangers boy announced he could be a bona fide superstar. When the team-sheet fell and Brendan Rodgers had named the 19-year-old as the playmaker, the fulcrum of Liverpool at the home of their auld enemy, the cognoscenti’s eyebrows were raised.

Yet by the time Sterling was replaced on 72 minutes he had put the swagger and fluidity into a crushing win for the visitors. Here was irrefutable evidence of Sterling’s star quality and potential to pilot his career on a skyward trajectory.

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 Raheem Sterling’s selection in the No10 role for England’s World Cup match against Italy was confirmation of the high regard in which he is held by Roy Hodgson. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/for the Guardian

This becomes Sterling’s great challenge now: to elevate his displays to world-beater level on virtually every game day. It is the mark of the very best and how Pellegrini and fans hope he will perform. If he does so, personal satisfaction and team glory are the dividends. Sterling can be the difference in winning the Premier League or not. He can be the man who propels City beyond the last 16 of the Champions League (where they have fallen in the past two years) and into the competition’s business end.

In doing so Sterling would ease the burden on David Silva as team magician with his own ilk of X-factor. Pellegrini continually states he wishes his City to play just one way: on the front foot, constantly steamrollering the opposition. What Sterling can bring is a differing method of attack. A variety featuring strength, direction, scintillating dribbling and a Roadrunner turn of heel.

In his time as one of Liverpool’s three amigos, alongside Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge, Sterling thrived. Now he can join Silva and Agüero to form City’s own frightening attack trio. What Sterling certainly has is no excuses. In April’s BBC interview that made it clear he wanted out of Anfield, Sterling said: “It’s not about the money at all. It’s never been about money. I talk about winning trophies throughout my career. That’s all I talk about. I don’t talk about how many cars I’m going to drive, how many houses I’ve got. I just purely want to be the best I can be.”

He has his wish. He is surrounded by a far better class of footballer than at Liverpool. He is at a club that has paraded two Premier League championships in three seasons and which has serious pretensions to add the European Cup to the trophy room. So now is the time for Sterling to show he deserves the big move worth £180,000 a week and the chance to stack up the honours he claims are craved.

But the emphasis shifts. The onus is on him. Sterling’s quest is to be a serious factor in ensuring Manchester City regain the league title and the club becomes a genuine continental heavyweight. Achieve this and his £49m fee will be viewed a snip.

Raheem Sterling thankful to Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool fans on way out

Raheem Sterling has moved to repair his relationship with Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool after completing a £49 million move to Manchester City. The 20-year-old winger, who said he could not believe he had become the most expensive English footballer in history, left Anfield in acrimonious fashion. Sterling turned down a £100,000-a-week contract and his agent, Aidy Ward, said he would reject a £900,000-a-week deal with the Merseyside club, such was his desire to move on. The winger missed two days of training last week when he said he was ill amid suggestions did not want to play for Rodgers and would refuse to go on Liverpool's pre-season tour. But Rodgers said he had no personal issues with Sterling and the £49 million man tried to rebuild bridges, telling Man City's website: "I never imagined I'd be at the point I am at this stage and breaking the British transfer record "I want to thank Brendan Rodgers for giving me a chance and an opportunity in the first team, giving me my full debut -- against City funnily enough -- and giving me a real chance to cement a place in the first team and show the world my talents." Sterling also mentioned two former Liverpool managers, adding: "I'd like to thank Rafa Benitez for taking me to Liverpool as a 15-year-old, that was a massive step for me and a new challenge. Also to Kenny Dalglish for showing such faith in me and putting me in at such a young age. "Finally, I'd also like to thank all the people around me, my mum and sisters, my management team and Aidy Ward for helping me focus and get where I am today. I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone." Sterling said he was relieved the saga was over and focused on winning trophies with his new club. "It's a good feeling and this is really happy time for me and my family," Sterling said. "I'm just glad it's all over and done with and I can't wait to get on the training field. "The thing that excites me the most is the world-class squad we have and knowing we have a team that is capable of winning things year in, year out. "The more quality players that are around you, the more quality it brings out in you so I can't wait to get started and play alongside them."

Man City need more than Raheem Sterling if they're to be contenders

A common theme of the summer so far has not just been transfers being pushed through, but pushed through early. The sages of the land have nodded in appreciation as players joined their new teammates on preseason tours, rather than stumbling through the door as the transfer window closes.

This summer has been notable for the chasing pack in the Premier League moving quickly to address weak points in their squad. As the first warm-up games get underway, Arsenal have signed Petr Cech, the goalkeeper that addresses their traditional weak spot; Manchester United have a new right-back, a pacy winger and basically an entirely new midfield; Liverpool have recruited six players and are in the market for more.

Only Chelsea have really been sluggish, replacing squad players with squad players -- depending on your optimism about Radamel Falcao's prospects -- but given that their first-team didn't have too many holes in it anyway, you can understand them keeping their powder dry.

And then there's Manchester City. The £49 million move for Raheem Sterling has obviously been the most high-profile transfer thus far in the Premier League; a hugely talented, young English player moving for an enormous fee that reflects not only his current ability but potential, nationality and a huge range of other factors.

Sterling is undoubtedly a fine signing for City. He represents an upgrade on their right wing and probably their left wing if David Silva is to play in the middle more. Sterling also offers something different in a couple of other positions as well. He affords manager Manuel Pellegrini some tactical flexibility as well as being a top-class player who one imagines will only get better; he was, for a team not particularly encumbered with monetary problems now that financial fair play is appearing increasingly toothless, something of a no-brainer.

Raheem Sterling will prove to be a crucial signing for Manchester City, but his addition doesn't address the squad's shortcomings.

However, the purchase of Sterling is not in line with the transfer strategy of the other clubs around the top of the table. While most of those around them have quickly moved to address their identifiable weaknesses, City's remain.

City, after all, did not want for goals last season. With 83 they were the top scorers in the Premier League, notching 10 more than champions Chelsea, and in Europe's big five leagues (England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy), only Real Madrid and Barcelona's tallies were higher. City did show a troubling inability to break teams down at some points, but on the basis of the numbers, making your first signing of the summer a £49 million attacker seems counter-intuitive.

Particularly as there are big holes in both the City starting XI and the squad as well. Last season Pablo Zabaleta was below his usual standards, Vincent Kompany is declining at an alarming rate, Eliaquim Mangala had a rough first season, Gael Clichy's form disappeared, Fernando was very much not the holding midfielder City hoped he'd be, Yaya Toure looked disinterested for much of the campaign, Samir Nasri the same, and any striker not called Sergio Aguero was desperately disappointing.

Add to that the departures of James Milner and Frank Lampard, who contributed in varying degrees last term, and you're left with a squad that has significant weaknesses that need to be addressed.

A quick estimate suggests they need another centre-back; a back-up right-back; perhaps an upgrade at left-back (Aleksandar Kolarov was pretty good in the closing stages of last season but you never know when he's going to start shanking crosses into the crowd again); at least one central midfielder, preferably two and maybe three; possibly a left winger; and should Edin Dzeko and/or Stevan Jovetic leave, a striker.

The sort of midfielder they need is important, too. If Toure's powers are waning, they need someone who can control games like he used to, and still does occasionally, but much more consistently. Paul Pogba is of course the dream, but prising him not only away from Juventus but out of the reach of Barcelona and Madrid will be a significant hurdle. They could also do with someone to lessen the creative burden on David Silva, plus someone to score a few goals from midfield. If they can conjure up one player to do all of that then great, but if you think an upgrade in the holding role is required too, you start to see the need for multiple recruits.

City have invested heavily in their academy, but not too many of the youngsters like Marcos Lopes or Thierry Ambrose look ready for the first team just yet. The club will want to be patient with these youngsters, and not use them to plug gaps in the squad before they are ready.

Of course, one might say that City did finish second last season, so it's hardly time to panic and rip up the squad. But they finished eight points back from a Chelsea side that very much eased off in the closing weeks, and their status as the second-best team in the division says more about the quality of everyone else than of their own. Add another limp showing in Europe, and the need for significant strengthening becomes clear, something chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak outlined at the end of last term.

"We want to go to the next level," he said. "We want a squad that has the capability and quality to win the Premier League and compete in and win the Champions League, and go all the way in the two cup competitions in England.

"You will see some changes. Some players who have served us well, maybe it is time for them to move on to the next challenges, while you will see us in the market bringing high-quality individuals to fit in with what we are aspiring to coming in this summer. I can assure you this squad will be stronger and the team will be more competitive."

The purchase of Sterling is an excellent one for City and could turn out to be their best in some time, but it should only be a start to their summer recruitment plans. Unless they invest elsewhere too, and significantly, last season's disappointments will surely be repeated.

Assessing Raheem Sterling; Great Young Things Can Range From Messi To Anderson

Just eight months after he was awarded Europe’s Golden Boy trophy Raheem Sterling has moved from Liverpool to Manchester City for a fee that could reach as high as $76M with add-ons.

Even in today’s soccer “economy” it is an astounding amount of money for a 20-year-old who has yet to appear in 100 top flight club games.

Sterling had signed for Liverpool from Queen’s Park Rangers five years ago and his former club now stands to collect about 10% of Manchester City’s very large check.

The move brings to an end a very acrimonious battle between Liverpool’s management and the player and his agent. Liverpool‘s management claimed that were intent on Sterling seeing out his contract; the player and his agent bent on a move that they said was about ambition rather than more money.

The reality is that for as long as the game has been played professionally “ambition” and “more money” have been synonymous.

For their money Manchester City are getting a player with immense potential but also a player who is far from the finished article.

DUBLIN, IRELAND – JUNE 07: England player Raheem Sterling in action during the International friendly match between Republic of Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on June 7, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

A look at some of the previous Golden Boy winners is testament to the expectations that Sterling carries but the list of alumni also carries a list of how potential can often become the pinnacle of a player’s career.

Few would argue that Wayne Rooney (2004), Lionel Messi (2005) and Sergio Aguero (2007) have matured into exceptional talents and have shown their worth time and time again.

But for every Rooney or Messi there is an Anderson or Pato or Balotelli.

The 2008 winner Anderson was signed by Manchester United for $30M from Porto. Over the next seven + seasons Anderson appeared in just 105 games for United (many as a substitute) and scored just 5 goals.

Anderson joined Internacional of Brazil on a free transfer in January 2015.

Brazilian Alexandre Pato was signed by Milan as a 17-year-old in 2007 with much fanfare.

Scoring at a clip of around a goal every two games reinforced the notion that Pato was on track to become one of the world’s best and Pato’s career seemed destined to intersect with his country’s hosting of the 2014 World Cup Finals.

But by 2011 injuries were taking a toll on a player heavily reliant on his speed. Although he played for Brazil at the 2012 Olympics, Pato never even made the Brazil squad for 2014. Pato is now playing for Sao Paulo in Brazil on loan from Corinthians.

For soccer fans the 2010 Golden Boy winner Mario Balotelli needs no introduction. The enfant terrible of world soccer was too much even for Jose Mourinho to handle while in charge of Inter.

Balotelli then moved to Manchester City to team up with former boss Roberto Mancini but that relationship eventually soured. Balotelli returned to Italy to sign for Milan but 18 months later he had already outstayed his welcome and he moved to Liverpool.

Balotelli cost Liverpool around $27M which for a player of such raw talent would normally be considered a steal. Many considered Liverpool’s move for Balotelli as a “no brainer” but they have since found out that such a description swings both ways.

A year later Liverpool are desperate to unload Balotelli but his reputation turns off all but the delusional or desperate.

Back in 2012 Milan’s Stephen El Shaaraway made the final short list of three for the Golden Boy award that was eventually won by Isco.  El Shaaraway’s exciting style attracted attention and through 2013 he was constantly linked with a lucrative transfer.

Yesterday, after battling recurring injuries, El Shaaraway was loaned to Monaco with an option to buy and the news was nothing more than an after-thought for soccer’s web sites.

Have we reached the stage where some clubs are willing to pay more for potential than they are for a proven product?

Five years from now will we be talking about Raheem Sterling’s move as a great bargain or could he become just a El Shaaraway type footnote in soccer’s daily routine.

Like El Shaaraway many players can find out very suddenly that they have a great future behind them.

Manchester City hope £49m Raheem Sterling can sprinkle some stardust

That the club could gamble £49m on a 20-year-old who is not yet the finished article shows how difficult it is for even the wealthy to recruit A-list talent

Does the name Rolando Bianchi ring any bells? Even distant ones? In all honesty the help of a search engine was required to jog this old brain about the kind of summer purchase that dominated the thoughts of Manchester City’s movers and shakers prior to the Abu Dhabi United Group takeover.

Rewind to 2007, the age of Sven-Göran Eriksson, Thaksin Shinawatra and a curious and half-baked first attempt at an internationally owned City revamp. The club blew about £40m on a range of players that summer, the most expensive of whom was Bianchi, a 6ft 2in striker who joined from Reggina for £8.8m. He scored on his debut as it happened but optimism soon fizzled out. By January he was so unsettled he was allowed to leave and he returned to Italy to pick up a modest career.

Recalling the tale of Bianchi brings context as City part with £49m to welcome their prime summer target, Raheem Sterling. The fact that their bartering with Liverpool scaled such expensive peaks reflects how remarkably difficult it is for any club – even one with huge financial backing – to recruit what could be defined as A-list talent.

Sterling may turn out to be worth every single one of the many pennies required for Liverpool to release the 20-year-old, and, equally, supposedly surer things than he have turned out to be very costly failed experiments. But it does feel as if part of the package was that City required a signing with wow factor this summer – something to turn heads, create new energy, attract a spotlight.

Considering how City are obviously regarded as major players in the transfer game, having spent about £500m on fees during the years the club has been bankrolled by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, they have not bought too many players classified as established A-listers at the time of purchase.

The best examples of players in that bracket – coveted across Europe’s elite, the kind of name which adds stature to a club and is a barometer for excellence and ambition – are Yaya Touré and Carlos Tevez in 2009, and Sergio Agüero in 2011. Robinho, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Mario Balotelli were all signings who also caught the imagination on a grand scale in the early years of the City renaissance, even if not all of them worked out.

These were players who enabled the City reinvention to gain an injection of high-calibre credibility. But interestingly, none of the signings since Agüero arrived four years ago have had A-list impact.

Last season’s major purchases, Fernando, Eliaquim Mangala and, as of last January, Wilfried Bony have not yet pulled up trees. Two or three seasons ago Stevan Jovetic, Javi García, Matija Nastasic and Jack Rodwell arrived with optimism but found it difficult to blossom at the Etihad. Álvaro Negredo came, had a stunning spell, dipped and went. Jesús Navas is wonderful only in gossamer flashes and has not lived up to the billing that he could become one of the great wingers of his time.

While the financial fair play sanctions City received last summer had an effect, it is still curious that the club’s ability to attract major talent, a touch of galácticogloss, in the first half of the Sheikh Mansour era has not been matched in the second half.

Buying top-echelon players, even for rich clubs, is just not that easy and one of the reasons for that – not that the game would care to admit it – is that the pool of outstanding talent looks worryingly parched around the edges. Consider how the other most jaw dropping of transfers so far to improve the Premier League’s top four teams are Bastian Schweinsteiger (almost 31 years old) and Petr Cech (33), with the intrigue of what Sterling and Memphis Depay can do offering the hope of youthful dazzle.

One can debate until deadline day whether the heavyweight bucks are appropriate for a player in Sterling’s developmental stage – part of his attraction is the feeling that there could be so much more to come – but there is not much arguing with market forces.

Marquee signings, of course, are not always what they are cracked up to be. When Manchester United spent nearly £60m on Ángel Di María a year ago, they were obviously hoping for more than a fitful season where delightful moments were mixed with underwhelming drifting. Even if it turns out to be a season of adjustment, it was not easy for club or player to confront difficulties when that kind of price tag turns a dark cloud into a thunderstorm.

With transfer figures as volatile as they are, football is full of such awkwardness. Arsenal’s first year with Mesut Özil was tricky. The experience of the former Chelsea striker Fernando Torres seldom shook off that perplexing air. It seems incomprehensible that Tottenham spent £26m on Roberto Soldado. These, remember, all arrived in their mid-20s with a bit of life experience behind them.

For City Sterling may not be the finished article but they are gambling that, if and when he is, he will possess that aura, that sprinkling of stardust, that hovers around the very best.

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Shaquille Sterling (born 8 December 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a Midfielder forManchester City and the England national team. He received the Golden Boy award for 2014 from a pan-European panel of sports journalists, recognising him as the best under-21 player playing in Europe. A 2015 professional study by Soccerexranked him as the most valuable young player in Europe, with a value of €49 million.^[4][5]

Born in Jamaica, Sterling moved to London at the age of seven and began his career at Queens Park Rangers before signing for Liverpool in 2010. In July 2015, following a lengthy dispute over a new contract, he was signed by Manchester City in a transfer potentially worth £49 million, the highest transfer for an English player.

He represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-21 level before being capped at full level by the national side in November 2012, and performed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Contents

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• 1 Club career
  • 1.1 Liverpool
    • 1.1.1 Early career
    • 1.1.2 2012–13
    • 1.1.3 2013–14
    • 1.1.4 2014–15
      • 1.1.4.1 Contract dispute
  • 1.2 Manchester City
• 2 International career
  • 2.1 Senior team
    • 2.1.1 2014 FIFA World Cup
    • 2.1.2 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
• 3 Style of play
• 4 Personal life
• 5 Sponsorship
• 6 Career statistics
  • 6.1 Club
  • 6.2 International
• 7 Honours
  • 7.1 Individual
• 8 References
• 9 External links

Club career

Liverpool

Early career

Sterling warming up before a game against Vålerenga in August 2011

Sterling was signed by Liverpool from the Academy at Queens Park Rangers in February 2010 by Rafael Benítez for an initial fee of £600,000, which could rise to £5 million depending on how many appearances he makes for the first team.^[6][7] He made his first appearance for the first team in a pre-season friendly againstBorussia Mönchengladbach in Germany on 1 August 2010.

Sterling played in the youth team, scoring his first goal in a friendly against Hibernian in a 2–2 draw. His first Premier Academy League match was a 2–2 draw against Aston Villa, his first win coming at home to Bristol City a week later. On 15 December, Sterling scored in the FA Youth Cup in a 4–0 win over Notts County. On 14 February 2011, Sterling scored five goals in a 9–0 win over Southend United.^[8]

On 24 March 2012, Sterling made his senior Liverpool debut as a substitute in a league match against Wigan Athletic, aged 17 years and 107 days, becoming the third-youngest player to play for the club in the process.^[9] On 1 May he made his second appearance, again as a substitute, against Fulham.^[10] On the final home game of the season, he made another substitute appearance in a 4–1 win against Chelsea.^[11]

2012–13

Sterling playing againstGomel in 2012

In August 2012, he made his European debut for the club, coming on as a substitute in a UEFA Europa Leaguequalifying match against Gomel, replacing Joe Cole in a 1–0 win.^[12] The following week, Sterling scored his first goal for the senior team with a first-half strike in a friendly against Bayer Leverkusen. On 23 August 2012, he started his first game for Liverpool in a Europa League qualifying match away to Hearts in a 1–0 win.^[13] He was given his first start in the league three days later in a 2–2 draw at Anfield to Manchester City.^[14] He played the full 90 minutes in the loss to Arsenal on 2 September, and the draw with Sunderland on 15 September, where he registered one assist and was named man of the match. On 19 September, Sterling was one of the group of teenagers that traveled to Switzerland to play Young Boys in aEuropa League group game. He replaced Stewart Downing in the second half as Liverpool won 5–3.^[15] On 20 October, Sterling scored his first senior competitive goal for Liverpool in the 29th minute in a 1–0 league win against Reading with a strike from the edge of the box. As a result he became the second-youngest player ever to score in a competitive fixture for Liverpool, behind only Michael Owen.^[16]

On 21 December 2012, Sterling signed a contract extension, committing his future to Liverpool.^[17] He scored his second league goal for the club on 2 January 2013, opening the scoring in a 3–0 win against Sunderland with a lob over goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.^[18]

2013–14

Sterling (left) training at Anfield withPhilippe Coutinho (centre) and José Enrique (right)

On 27 August 2013, he scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season, the opening goal against Notts County in a 4–2 win in the League Cup.^[19] On 4 December, Sterling scored his first Premier League goal of the season for Liverpool in a 5–1 win over Norwich City. His form in December saw him score two further goals in wins against Tottenham Hotspur (5–0) and Cardiff City (3–1).^[20][21] On 8 February 2014, he scored twice in a 5–1 win against Arsenal at Anfield.^[22] On 13 April, he scored Liverpool's opening goal in a 3–2 win over Manchester City.^[23] A week later, he scored two goals and assisted another as Liverpool won 3–2 against Norwich City at Carrow Road.^[24]

On 18 April 2014, he was named as one of the six players on the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.^[25]

2014–15

Sterling warming-up for Liverpool before a match against Hull City.

On 17 August 2014, Sterling scored to help Liverpool to win their opening match of the 2014–15 season, a 2–1 win at home to Southampton at Anfield.^[26] On 31 August, Sterling scored the opening goal in a 3–0 league win against Tottenham at White Hart Lane and was named man of the match.^[27]

On 16 September, Sterling made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 2–1 victory over Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad at Anfield.^[28]

On 14 December 2014, he made his 100th appearance for Liverpool, in a match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.^[29] On 17 December, Sterling scored a brace in a 3–1 victory over Bournemouth at Dean Court in the League Cup quarter-final.^[30]

On 20 December, Sterling was named as the recipient of the 2014 Golden Boy Award.^[31][32]

Sterling was officially excused from Liverpool's FA Cup match against AFC Wimbledon in January 2015, with manager Brendan Rodgers aiming to prevent the player becoming exhausted. He used the time off to holiday in Jamaica.^[33] On 31 January Sterling scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win over West Ham.^[34]

On 4 February, Sterling scored the equaliser against Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium in a 2–1 win for Liverpool.^[35] On 22 February he scored the second goal for Liverpool in a 2–0 win over Southampton.^[36]

On 13 April, Sterling opened the scoring in a 2–0 win over Newcastle United.^[37] He was named the team's Young Player of the Season on 19 May, and when receiving the award was booed by fans due to his rejection of a new contract;^[38] he was also booed on 7 June, while playing for England in Dublin.^[39]

On 16 April 2015, for the second consecutive year, he was named as one of the six players on the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.^[40]

Contract dispute

On 9 February 2015, Brendan Rodgers claimed Sterling had been offered “an incredible deal” to stay at Liverpool, rumoured to be a new contract worth £100,000 a week, but he also stated Liverpool were "certainly not a club that is going to give way, way above what a player is worth at a certain time in their career."^[41] However, on 20 March, Rodgers claimed Sterling’s contract situation would not be resolved until the summer at least.^[42]

On 1 April, Sterling gave an unsanctioned interview with the BBC, where he confirmed he had turned down a new deal, but denied that this was for reasons of money. He had two years of a £35,000 per week contract remaining and said that he would not negotiate a new contract until the end of the season.^[43] Four days later, manager Brendan Rodgersslammed Sterling's advisors (Aidy Ward) on the interview saying, "You are not a 20-year-old boy and you pick up the phone and ask to speak to the BBC. You don't do it. Him in particular. But, of course, if he is asked to do that by other parties then that is what he'll do."^[44]

On 21 May, amid rumours that Sterling intended to leave the club his agent, Aidy Ward, gave an interview to the London Evening Standard saying, “I don't care about the PR of the club and the club situation... He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700, £800, £900 thousand a week."^[45]

On 11 June, Liverpool reportedly rejected an initial bid of £30 million from Manchester City. One week later they reportedly rejected a second bid from City for £40 million, with Liverpool valuing Sterling at £50 million.^[46] Following news that Sterling had reportedly asked to be left out of Liverpool's preseason tour to Asia, and missed two days of training through illness, was met with widespread criticism from former Liverpool players, including Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, and Graeme Souness.^[47][48]

Manchester City

On 12 July 2015, a deal was agreed for his transfer to Manchester City for an initial £44 million, with a further potential £5 million in add-ons, subject to personal terms and a medical.^[49][50] On July 14, he officially joined Manchester City, signing a five-year deal.^[51]

International career

Despite having lived in England since the age of five, Sterling was initially only eligible to represent Jamaica at international level. It was not until September 2009 that FIFAagreed to the proposals by the English, Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh Football Associations to update the "home nations agreement", allowing players who were educated in their nation for five years or more to become eligible for their national team.^[52] Sterling first represented England at under-16 level in November 2009 in a match against Northern Ireland.^[53] When speaking of the possibility of playing for Jamaica, Sterling said: "When it comes to that decision, that is when I will decide, but if Jamaica calls for me, why not?"^[54]

Sterling was selected to play for England for the 2011 U-17 World Cup. He scored a long-range goal in England's opening 2–0 win against Rwanda in Pachuca.^[55] He also scored against Argentina in the second round in a game where England won 4–2 on penalties.^[56] On 10 September 2012, Sterling was called up to the senior England squad for the first time for a 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Ukraine, where he was an unused substitute.^[57][58] In early October he was called up for the first time to the England under-21 squad and made his debut as a substitute during a match against Serbia on 16 October.^[59][60] He scored his first goal for England U21 on 13 August 2013, in a 6–0 win against Scotland.^[61]

Senior team

He made his senior debut for England on 14 November 2012, starting in a friendly away to Sweden.^[62] On 5 March 2014, Sterling earned his second cap and was named man of the match as England beat Denmark 1–0 in a friendly match at Wembley Stadium.^[63][64]

2014 FIFA World Cup

On 12 May 2014, Sterling was named in England's 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.^[65] In a pre-tournament friendly on 4 June, against Ecuador in Miami on his fourth cap, Sterling slid into Antonio Valencia, who reacted by grabbing Sterling's neck; both received red cards for their actions.^[66][67] Valencia later apologised for his reaction.^[68][69]

On 14 June, Sterling started in England's opening group match, a 2–1 loss to Italy in Manaus, and was rated as the team's best performing player by the BBC.^[70]

UEFA Euro 2016 qualification

On 27 March 2015, Sterling scored his first senior goal for England in a 4–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley Stadium.^[71]

Style of play

Sterling plays as a winger, attacking midfielder or striker.^{[72][73][74][75][76]} Barcelona midfielder Xavi said in November 2014 that Sterling is good enough to play for the La Liga club, praising his physical and technical qualities.^[77][78] In April 2015, BBC Sport columnist Phil McNulty wrote that Sterling was "very good with the potential to be outstanding" but remained a "work in progress" due to inconsistent performances.^[79]

Personal life

Sterling was born in the Maverley district of Kingston, Jamaica and spent his early years there.^[80][81] At the age of seven he emigrated to London, England with his mother,^[80][81]and attended Copland School in Wembley, north-west London.^[82] He has one daughter, Melody Rose, born in 2012 after a brief relationship.^[83] His absent father was murdered in Jamaica when Sterling was 9 years old.^[84][85]

On 8 August 2013, Sterling was arrested for an alleged common assault on his former girlfriend, a model. He was found not guilty at Liverpool Magistrates Court on 20 September, when the complainant was unable to offer consistent evidence.^[86][87] A few months earlier on 20 May 2013, a charge of common assault on a different woman was dropped just as the trial was set to start, when the two witnesses failed to appear and the prosecution offered no further evidence. Sterling's legal fees in the earlier case were paid for by the court.^[88]

In an interview with the Daily Mail in 2013, Sterling stated that he is a Christian and the faith is an important thing for him.^[89]

In April 2015, Sterling was photographed by the Sunday Mirror allegedly smoking a shisha pipe, and by The Sun allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide for recreational purposes. Manager Brendan Rodgers said "I don't think it is something you should be doing, it's as simple as that...Young players make mistakes. As long as they learn from them, that is what is important".^[90]

Sponsorship

In 2012, Sterling signed a sponsorship deal with American sportswear and equipment supplier, Nike. He appeared in an advert for the new Nike Green Speed II alongside Mario Götze, Theo Walcott, Eden Hazard, Christian Eriksen and Stephan El Shaarawy in November 2012.^[91][92] In January 2013 he modelled the new Nike Mercurial Vapor IX.^[93]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 May 2015.

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Liverpool	2011–12[94]	Premier League	3	0	0	0	0	0	—		3	0
	2012–13[95]	Premier League	24	2	1	0	1	0	10[a]	0	36	2
	2013–14[96]	Premier League	33	9	3	0	2	1	—		38	10
	2014–15[97]	Premier League	35	7	5	1	4	3	8[b]	0	52	11
	Total		95	18	9	1	7	4	18	0	129	23
Manchester City	2015–16[98]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			95	18	9	1	7	4	18	0	129	23

1. Jump up^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. Jump up^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two in Europa League

International

As of match played 14 June 2015.^[99]

International statistics

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
England	2012	1	0
	2014	12	0
	2015	3	1
Total		16	1