Raheem Sterling
Age: 27
Position: Wing midfielder
transfers from Manchester City to Chelsea
Transfer fee: 45 million euros.
What did he bring to Manchester City?
Sterling played for seven seasons at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 337 games in which he scored 131 goals and added 94 assists.
Since the appointment of Pep Guardiola as City coach at the start of the 2016/17 season, no player has made more Premier League appearances than Sterling.
No City player has scored more than 85 of his league goals.
The England international has helped City become the strongest team in England, winning four championships, once in the FA Cup, four times in the League Cup and once in the Community Shield.
What's absurd about him, is that despite the numbers and the fact that as time went on, he only got better under Guardiola, Sterling was always the man who also received the most criticism from City fans and the media.
When things did not go well for City, he was always the bad guy, something he often experienced in the England team as well.
Sterling in England uniform.
Wants to get fit for the World Cup in Qatar, Photo: AP
What is expected of him at Chelsea?
Chelsea started the 2021/22 season with a lot of hopes when by the end of the calendar year there seemed to be a triple battle for the title.
But then the Blues started to sink in, moving away from City and Liverpool and problems in the locker room, especially with Romulo Lukaku caused unrest at Stamford Bridge.
Now, after the transfer of ownership from Roman Abramovich to Todd Bohli, Chelsea want to reinvent themselves and get back to fighting for the championship and here too, Sterling will be put quite a bit on his shoulders.
According to reports across England, Thomas Tuchel, the Chelsea coach, spoke to Sterling and assured him that after years of uncertainty and relentless movement from the grass to the bench, he would have a much safer place with him. Hakim Zeich is also expected to leave, Christian Polisic is unstable and often injured, and Tuchel is looking for someone beyond his numbers, who has enough experience in big classes. As a simulated "9" at Pep City and did his job properly and could take advantage of his speed in all offensive positions.
Sterling on the bench.
Want to see more of the grass, Photo: Reuters
Sterling, a total of 27 years old, is entering the peak years of his career and he wants to make the most of them. Although it seems that his departure from City is mainly on the part of the team, but also for him it is an attempt to replace diskette, get new energies and return to where he grew up - London Also, it is impossible not to ignore the fact that the World Cup will begin in Qatar in November, which Sterling wants to reach when a leading player who has been given enough minutes to play for Gareth Southgate.
Under Guardiola, Sterling's technical understanding improved miraculously and his extension in front of goal became much more purposeful.
He finished last season with 17 goals and 9 assists in all settings and still has the feeling he can do a lot more, he just needs to get confidence.
Confidence that even if he provides a less good game, four more players in the same position will not be waiting on the bench waiting for his downfall to take his place.
Chelsea as a club, no less ambitious than City, but it is possible that at this point in time, it is a perfect match, much thanks to Tuchel.
The German is no less swanky than Pep, but he seems to be giving more opportunities to his players.
Jose Mourinho once used the analogy of a bottle of ketchup waiting to explode to describe Romulo Lukaku during his time at Manchester United, and it seems that with all the resume, this thing also applies to Sterling.
The child who grew up without a father after being murdered when he was two years old and suffering from behavior problems when he emigrated to the kingdom, just needs someone to hug him.
Maybe at Chelsea he will finally find peace.
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