Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Leeds United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - April 10, 2021 Manchester City's Raheem Sterling reacts Pool via REUTERS/Tim Keeton EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
According to former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, the opportunity to move to Real Madrid might be too ‘massive’ for Manchester City star Raheem Sterling to turn down.
The Lowdown: Madrid’s confirmed interest
The forward first arrived at the Etihad in a £49m deal from Liverpool seven years ago, but after last putting pen to paper on an extension with the Sky Blues in 2018, this now means that he will be out of contract in just over 12 months time.
It was reported by The Times earlier this week that the Kingston-born talent had been attracting attention as he enters the last year of his current agreement, with Spanish giants Real Madrid claimed to be ramping up their interest in his services as the transfer window fast approaches.
The same publication also state that the winger is set to meet with City executives following the conclusion of the international break to discuss his future with the top-flight champions.
The Latest: Kenny reacts
Kenny, 44, suggested that while Sterling has loved his time in Manchester, the pull of a club like Madrid might just be too good to turn down. He told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild:
“Real Madrid have a massive pull.
“Does he think his time is up at City now? Is he wanting a fresh challenge?
“That would explain why he has let his contract run down a little bit.
“We don’t know want has gone on and Real Madrid is the club everyone wants to play for.
“They have just won La Liga and the Champions League even though they weren’t at their best.
“They just showed what Real Madrid is about by winning that trophy, they looked dead and buried in a few games but still won them.
“The opportunity to play for the European champions might be too much for Sterling to turn down.”
The Verdict: An absolute no-brainer
Ever since his arrival at City in the summer of 2015, the 74-cap international has played a pivotal role in Pep Guardiola’s squad, making an outstanding 226 goal contributions in just 339 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.
In more recent times though, the starlet has slightly fallen down the pecking order under the Spaniard, with the likes of Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish often chosen ahead of him in the match-day starting XI, something that’s resulted in him being tempted to look elsewhere.
Should Man City let Sterling leave?
Yes
No
A move to the newly-crowned Champions League winners would not only aid Sterling’s game time, but would seemingly also increase his chances of getting his hands on that one truly elusive piece of silverware.
In other news… a Man City maestro could be set for a surprise Etihad exit this summer.
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