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| Raheem Sterling insists he is not ‘a money-grabbing 20-year-old’ | Raheem Sterling insists he is not ‘a money-grabbing 20-year-old’ |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Raheem Sterling has confirmed he rejected Liverpool’s offer of a £100,000-a-week contract not as a “money-grabbing 20-year-old” but to assess his prospects of success at the highest level come the end of the season. | Raheem Sterling has confirmed he rejected Liverpool’s offer of a £100,000-a-week contract not as a “money-grabbing 20-year-old” but to assess his prospects of success at the highest level come the end of the season. |
| The England international made the admission in a BBC interview on Wednesday, given in response to accusations he is holding Liverpool to ransom over a new deal. Sterling states during the 27-minute interview that football ambition is behind his non-commitment, rather than financial gain, and provides no assurance his long-term future lies at Anfield. | |
| He also admits being “quite flattered” by reported interest from Arsenal, one of several clubs alert to the contract dispute along with Chelsea and Manchester City, and claims he would have accepted less than £100,000-a-week from Liverpool had they offered a contract last season. | |
| “It’s not about the money at all,” said Sterling, who is on £35,000 a week with Liverpool until 2017. “Never once in my life has it been about money. I talk about winning trophies throughout my career. I don’t talk about how many cars I’m going to drive or how many houses I’ve got. I just purely want to be the best I can be.” | |
| He added: “I don’t want to be perceived as a money-grabbing 20-year-old. I want to be seen as a 20-year-old kid who loves playing football and doing his best for the team. I never want the fans to think bad of me but it has been too much for me this season with everyone talking about it [the contract] and I just want to get through this season and be part of want we want to achieve.” | He added: “I don’t want to be perceived as a money-grabbing 20-year-old. I want to be seen as a 20-year-old kid who loves playing football and doing his best for the team. I never want the fans to think bad of me but it has been too much for me this season with everyone talking about it [the contract] and I just want to get through this season and be part of want we want to achieve.” |
| Brendan Rodgers revealed recently that Sterling and his intermediary, Aidy Ward, had put talks on hold having failed to make progress since they commenced in October. The Liverpool manager claimed the decision stemmed from Sterling’s desire to concentrate on football but, as the BBC interview demonstrates, the situation has since intensified. | Brendan Rodgers revealed recently that Sterling and his intermediary, Aidy Ward, had put talks on hold having failed to make progress since they commenced in October. The Liverpool manager claimed the decision stemmed from Sterling’s desire to concentrate on football but, as the BBC interview demonstrates, the situation has since intensified. |
| “I will definitely give guarantees at the end of the season. I’m just focusing on my football,” was Sterling’s reply when asked if he would be a Liverpool player in June. “It is my career and I want the best for me and to reach the goals I had as a kid.” | “I will definitely give guarantees at the end of the season. I’m just focusing on my football,” was Sterling’s reply when asked if he would be a Liverpool player in June. “It is my career and I want the best for me and to reach the goals I had as a kid.” |
| Sterling described Liverpool’s £100,000-a-week, five-year contract offer as “flattering” but said it would remain unsigned while he focused on Champions League qualification and winning the FA Cup. “I just want to focus on football and at the end of the season assess my position of where I am as a 20-year-old in the Premier League.” | |
| The forward claimed his future could have been resolved after last season’s title challenge. He added: “If, at that point in time, I was offered a contract, I most definitely would have signed straight away and probably for far less money than is being said now. I think the timing was a bit off.” | The forward claimed his future could have been resolved after last season’s title challenge. He added: “If, at that point in time, I was offered a contract, I most definitely would have signed straight away and probably for far less money than is being said now. I think the timing was a bit off.” |
| Luis Suárez’s departure for Barcelona last summer and Steven Gerrard’s impending exit have left “a little dent” according to Sterling, although he backed Liverpool’s emerging talent to emulate the pair’s achievements and claims Anfield and Rodgers are “great” for young players. He also insists playing up front is “where I see myself” and his recent switch to wing-back – cited as a potential cause of conflict with Rodgers – “is difficult for me.” | |
| Sterling is fit for Liverpool’s visit to Arsenal on Saturday despite missing the friendly between England and Italy as a precaution against a toe problem. He described reports of a transfer to London, where he spent his childhood, as a compliment, although Liverpool would not countenance a sale with the player under contract for another two years. “It’s quite flattering,” he said of Arsenal’s interest. | Sterling is fit for Liverpool’s visit to Arsenal on Saturday despite missing the friendly between England and Italy as a precaution against a toe problem. He described reports of a transfer to London, where he spent his childhood, as a compliment, although Liverpool would not countenance a sale with the player under contract for another two years. “It’s quite flattering,” he said of Arsenal’s interest. |
| “For me it is quite flattering but I try to block everything out of my head. The next game is against Arsenal and I want to do my best. I won’t be hiding.” | “For me it is quite flattering but I try to block everything out of my head. The next game is against Arsenal and I want to do my best. I won’t be hiding.” |
| The England international may get his wish to return to the Liverpool attack on Saturday with Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana doubtful. | The England international may get his wish to return to the Liverpool attack on Saturday with Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana doubtful. |
| Related: Football transfer rumours: Arsenal to move for Milan’s Stephan El Shaarawy? | Related: Football transfer rumours: Arsenal to move for Milan’s Stephan El Shaarawy? |