Raheem Sterling’s future at Manchester City has been up in the air since Pep Guardiola dropped him from the starting lineup, but Fabrizio Romano said in a Benchwarmers column that City still ‘intent’ to offer him a new deal.
The Sky Sports and Guardian journalist is convinced Sterling stay at the Etihad Stadium beyond 2023 as Guardiola considers him integral to the club’s success moving forward.
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Sterling has made 48 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 14 goals with 12 assists, but he’s not commanded a regular starting place in 2021.
The 26-year-old has amassed only 30 minutes of Champions League football since February and has started only seven of City’s last 13 league outings, so there were suggestions that he might be considering his future.
Sterling also ended contract talks with City when he dropped his representative, so there were some fears that he might leave. Real Madrid were reportedly keen on capitalising, but it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere now.
Guardiola called the England international a ‘key player’ in April and says he just needs a confidence boost, so Sterling will be given an opportunity to turn things around.