Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that he’s “very disappointed” in former Reds teammate Raheem Sterling, who looks to be closing in on a move to Manchester City.
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The LA Galaxy midfielder admitted that the contrast between Sterling and Jordan Henderson, his likely successor as Liverpool captain, is unbelievably drastic.
In quotes taken by BBC Sport, he said: “I’d love to be able to say what I want to say on it. Raheem and Jordan are at different ends of the scale. Jordan’s so professional, he’s a winner, a great lad.
“I don’t think there’s a more fitting player to take that armband off me. I see a lot of my game in Jordan’s game and what I like about him is he’s very humble.”
As the Daily Mirror reports, Sterling has missed the last two days of training – claiming he’s been unwell – while he’s also requested to be left out of our tour of the Far East, which is due to start on Sunday.
The Mirror also carry quotes from our former No. 8, who said: “They all need to be men about the situation. Raheem needs to go in and speak to the owners and to Brendan himself, tell them what he wants and go about it that way. You don’t have to throw illnesses in and refuse to go on tour.
“There are millions and millions of Liverpool fans around the world who are itching to see Raheem Sterling in a Liverpool kit. So I don’t think it’s fair on them if he is behaving like that.”
As the Mirror states, while Sterling has turned down the offer of a new contract, Henderson has committed his long term future to life at Anfield by signing a new five-year deal.
Sterling has cited the complete breakdown of his relationship with boss Brendan Rodgers as the problem forcing him out, but stories of his apparent unhappiness have only been met by another wave of anger from supporters.
The player’s situation on Merseyside certainly looks to have become untenable, so with a third bid from Manchester City likely to be arriving in the coming days (via Daily Mail), it’s hard to see him ever wearing the Liverpool shirt again.