Former Liverpool player Raheem Sterling was interested in a return to Anfield from Manchester City last summer.
Sterling left City after seven trophy-laden seasons during the summer window. Having grown unhappy under Pep Guardiola, he wanted to seek a fresh challenge. And according to The Athletic, that new challenge could well have been the rekindling of an old flame.
They report that the 28-year-old was ‘open’ to re-joining the club he left in 2015. With interest reportedly not forthcoming from PSG, Barcelona or Real Madrid, a move to stay in England was the only option for Sterling.
However, it’s claimed that despite Sterling’s interest, this was never going to be at Liverpool. The England star is said to have been ‘dead-set’ on leaving Manchester, but a return to the Reds was reportedly a ‘non-starter.’
That left only Chelsea in the running. It’s claimed that had the Blues not come in for Sterling, he would have likely remained at City.
The inference is that Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool had no interest in spending £48m or so on Sterling. It’s claimed that City may well have ‘put the kibosh’ on their players moving to Anfield. Had Raheem, or any other player been desperate to join only Liverpool though, it would reportedly have been ‘very difficult’ for City to block that.
No Anfield redemption for Raheem
This isn’t the first time The Athletic have reported that Sterling wouldn’t have minded a second-coming at Liverpool. But this report does add a little extra detail.
For example, it’s interesting to read that City wouldn’t have had too much say if both parties had wanted the move.
So, it’s clear that rather than being his then club’s decision, this was a case of things not moving on Liverpool’s end. When you look at how Sterling has performed so far for Chelsea, that looks like a good decision.
Still, there surely remains a portion of fans who would have loved to have seen the forward back at Anfield.
Yes, his illustrious career may potentially have it’s best days behind it, but he’s still only twenty-eight. He’s still got a bit, too. Ian Wright called him ‘amazing’ recently and he’s still a big player for England. After such a miserable exit from the club, it would have been nice to have a little redemption story.
On the flip side, it’s hard to see how Sterling would have been able to change what’s gone on at Liverpool this season. As a result, any return would have been a pretty miserable one. Anyway, with a move to Stamford Bridge done and dusted, there’s no way this will ever happen now. All things told, that’s probably for the best.
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