Former Liverpool F.C. defender Jamie Carragher believes star winger Raheem Sterling should focus on his football instead of ‘taking on the club.’
The England international, 20, turned down a £100-a-week contract at Liverpool earlier this season, and insisted money was not behind his decision.
“It’s not about the money at all,” Sterling told the BBC in late March.
“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.
“I don’t want to be perceived as a money-grabbing 20-year-old.
“I just want to be seen as a kid who loves to play football and to do the best for the team.”
Keep Your Mouth Shut
Meanwhile, former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has revealed he thinks Sterling should just keep his mouth shut and stay on Merseyside despite reports linking the player with Arsenal and Manchester City.
The former England international is absolutely livid with the manner in which Sterling has publicised his contract saga with the club, and rightly so.
Should Sterling move to Arsenal or Manchester City, would he be guaranteed a place in the starting XI? Perhaps, but probably not.
A move to North London would see him competing with the likes of Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott for a place in Arsene Wenger’s starting lineup.
Similarly, should he decide to move to the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sterling would face first-team competition from the likes of David Silva, Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Wilfried Bony.
“For a 20-year-old kid and his agent to be taking on the club, there’s nothing worse than that,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“Forget his performances and forget how much money he wants, you just keep your mouth shut and get on with playing football.
“He’ll move on in years to come but how will he be thought of for the rest of his career? You’ve got to think about how you will be thought of, as well as just your ability. And it’s about time his agent stopped leaking stories, never mind the football club leaking stories.
“He doesn’t need to move clubs in my opinion. For his football development, he needs to stay at Liverpool. He plays every week.”
Sterling, who has tallied seven goals and seven assists in 35 English Premier League appearances for the Reds in 2014/15, is backed by the bookmakers at 2/1 to join Manchester City this summer.
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