Raheem Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward, has accused Liverpool of hurting the English winger’s growth and said that his move to Manchester City has helped him improve drastically.
49 million Euros and a long, protracted, bitter transfer saga in summer 2015 saw 20-year-old English winger Raheem Sterling move from Liverpool to Manchester City with no love lost between him and his former side. The mastermind behind the move, his agent Aidy Ward, recently spoke about the move and how it has helped Sterling.
“At Liverpool, Raheem was asked to play as a full-back, just like Emre Can was asked to play as a central defender when he is a midfielder,” he is quoted as saying by The Mirror.
“That wasna t going to help him develop as a player. Moving to City was right for Raheem, even if Liverpool fans dona t want to accept that. At City, he now has a license to thrill.”
Going Up A Tier?
“Raheem is in a good place. He is playing with better players for a manager who gives him the freedom to express himself, and he is improving as a player in a team that is at the top of the Premier League and in the Champions League,” Ward added.
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“He has gone up a tier. Manuel Pellegrini has played him in a wide role with the freedom to drift inside and he has also played as a central striker. Thata s why he scored the first hat-trick of his professional career recently against Bournemouth a all of the goals coming in the first half.”
The Return Which Could Turn Ugly
The most expensive English player of all time will face the fury of the travelling Kop as he lines up on the 21st of November against his former team Liverpool. He’s already scored 6 goals this season, just 5 behind his total tally of 11 for Liverpool last season, and will look to add more during the match.
It remains to be seen what kind of reception Sterling will get from his former fans and whether he will choose to celebrate should he score against Liverpool. The match will also see James Milner make a return to the Etihad Stadium in red colors and will be Jurgen Klopp’s first clash against one of the top 4 opposition — definitely one to look forward to.