Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville says he was somewhat puzzled by the criticism Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling received for his performances last season.
His loss of form has subsequently led to rumours that he could be offloaded to Arsenal or Tottenham this summer, but Neville can’t understand the negative comments being directed towards the England international:
“He has been a key player. Raheem is someone for Manchester City during this past three or four years has basically torn it up. His goals and assists have got to a level of real high quality for England and Manchester City. To a level when he was at Liverpool, you might have viewed him as being inconsistent and erratic in his final moment. There were rumours going into the tournament about the season he had. I didn’t quite get that really. I know he wasn’t at his best at the end. But over the season, I think he had a decent season.”
There is no doubt that Sterling did drop below the very high standards he has set himself with his displays last season, and it appears to have had a knock-on effect in terms of his future.
Manager Pep Guardiola dropped him for some important games and Sterling has since hinted that is why he has become unhappy at the Etihad Stadium.
With two years remaining on his contract, City do have a decision to make this summer on whether to let him go, and it appears they are open to offloading him for the right price. Whether he will actually end up leaving the club, we shall have to wait and see.
