Raheem Sterling joined Chelsea on a five year deal from Manchester City over the summer, but Pol Ballus and Sam Lee of The Athletic revealed that he came close to leaving a year before when Barcelona were showing an interest.
The 27-year-old had been offered out to the Catalans late in the transfer window and Barca’s sporting director ‘Mateu Alemany (flew) to Manchester’ to hash out a move before deadline, but the move ‘fell apart’.
Ballus and Lee say there wasn’t enough time in the transfer window to get a deal over the line and Sterling wasn’t keen on leaving City so late as he was preparing for another Premier League season. Months later, Barcelona would sign Ferran Torres instead, believing the Spaniard would adapt better.
Sterling’s failed to move didn’t affect his form as he scored 17 goals with nine assists from 47 games in all competitions last season. The England international has since gone on to make 19 appearances for Chelsea this campaign, scoring five goals with two assists, so he’s still finding his feet back in London.
Sterling spent his youth career in the English capital, so it makes sense that he’d be open to joining Chelsea over Barcelona.
In other news, Kyle Walker makes admission about Pep Guardiola’s future at Man City
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