Raheem Sterling To Sign New Contract
By David Crook
Sterling Agrees New Deal
Raheem Sterling has seen his career accelerate since signing for Manchester City from Liverpool. At the time Liverpool fans and Liverpool Football Club and their friends in the media attempted to paint him as a mercenary. Why would anyone want to leave Liverpool, went the media narrative.
But Sterling was a unique and exciting talent who crucially had total belief in his own ability. He was represented by the agent Aidy Ward and was more than happy to settle down for a fight with Liverpool.
The media narrative since he left Liverpool has been peppered with lies and half truths. He went to Manchester City not for the money, but for glory. City reportedly agreed an initial contract for Sterling at £180k a week, but don’t forget Liverpool signed James Milner the same week for over £200k a week.
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Any of these sums of money seem astronomical to us normal people but they are all relative. Players are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them.
In leaving Liverpool though the media set out their stall and so began a 4 year wave of criticism, where he was vilified for buying a house for his mum, having a dirty car and worst of all – buying a sausage roll from Greggs.
Of course Sterling’s decision to leave Liverpool has proven to be not only correct but possibly the best decision taken by a young player in living memory. Sterling left because he believed he could get in a side better than Liverpool, develop further and win trophies.
In the years since he left, Sterling has won 2 x League Cups, 1 x Premier League, 1 x Charity Shield and played in a Champions League Semi Final. In the corresponding period Liverpool have won nothing.
As his contract with Manchester City has begun to wind down, he has been involved In a high stakes game of poker about renewing it. Of course Sterling is determined enough to see out such a game, having done that at Liverpool.
Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward has consistently leaked stories to the press – about Real Madrid interest, about Sterling wanting to play In warmer weather. But City have kept their nerve too. All along they have said they want Sterling to stay and hope a solution can be found.
Guardiola has even gone so far as to outline how important Sterling is to our system and how much he wants him to stay.
Manchester City is a Club where Sterling has been consistently well supported, not just by the senior executives and management but by the fans too. “Top of the League” the crowd sing to counter act the stupid booing.
Stories have emerged today that the courtship between Manchester City and Sterling is over; an agreement has been reached. The level of detail regarding this new agreement is so significant the story can only have been placed in the media by either Aidy Ward or City. Given the track record and tactics that have been used so far, it’s likely to emanate from Sterling’s camp.
Whether the placing of the story in the media is the rubber stamp on the agreement or a last minute call to arms from another team is unclear. I believe, there is not going to be any about turn. The deal for Sterling is done bar the photo opportunity.
Reports are suggesting Sterling has agreed a new 5 year contract, which would be until 2023 at a salary of £300 a week. This figure is likely to be the maximum sum, including all the add one and would place him amongst the top earners at Manchester City. Of course this salary is dwarfed by the sums being paid at Manchester United to Sanchez- reportedly he earns over £500k per week.
So Sterling looks to be getting his reward for his brilliant performances. Crucially for City it shows a real faith in the project by the stars – Sterling is the 9th first team player to sign a contract extension in the last couple of years, with new deals for Sane, Bernardo and Stones all in the works currently.
Manchester City are a Club, not just at the top of their game but intent on staying there for years to come.