‘When you see the white shirt you know exactly what the club stands for, it’s massive’: Raheem Sterling hails ‘fantastic’ Real Madrid as Spanish giants plot move for Manchester City star in wake of Champions League ban
- Raheem Sterling has this week been linked with a move to Real Madrid
- The 25-year-old has admitted the Spanish giants are a ‘fantastic’ club
- Sterling could leave Manchester City after two-year Champions League ban
Raheem Sterling insists he is ‘really happy’ at Manchester City, despite admitting his admiration for Real Madrid.
The 25-year-old was this week linked with a move to the Bernabeu following City’s two-year ban from the Champions League as a result of breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations.
But he would not be swayed on whether that will lead to an abrupt departure from the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Raheem Sterling insists he is ‘really happy at Manchester City despite talk of a departure
The 25-year-old has been linked with a summer move to Spanish giants Real Madrid
‘Right now I’m at City and I’m really happy’, he told AS.
‘But I say Real Madrid are a fantastic club, when you see the white shirt you know exactly what the club stands for, it’s massive. But at the same time, I have a contract with City now and I have to respect this. But it’s a fantastic club.
‘It’s something that you see all the time, but I’m a City player and I’m enjoying it at the moment, even if things haven’t gone quite as planned in the league.’
His agent, Aidy Ward, reaffirmed Sterling’s commitment to City this week, saying: ‘Raheem is solely focused on Manchester City and will not be distracted by any talk of transfers to any club at the moment.’
Sterling admitted, ‘when you see the white shirt you know exactly what the club stands for’
City find themselves 22 points adrift of Liverpool in the Premier League but go to Real Madrid next week for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Sterling admits: ‘We now have a massive opportunity in the Champions League but I keep saying Real Madrid is a fantastic club, there’s lovely weather but I keep saying that I am quite happy at City.’
Defeat could be City’s last involvement in the competition for some time following UEFA’s ruling last week.
The club will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but the knock-on effects are already being felt.
Sterling is currently sidelined due to an injury suffered during defeat by Tottenham
According to The Sun, Spanish giants Real were already planning a £180million swoop for England star Sterling before Friday’s shock news.
Now, they will intensify their efforts further in the knowledge that City will have to tighten their belts if they miss out on a £170m Champions League bonanza.
Sterling, 25, is under contract at the Etihad Stadium for another three years and talks started in November to increase his salary from £300,000-a-week to £450,000-a-week.
He has been sidelined by injury since the 2-0 defeat by Tottenham at the start of the month, but this week returned to training.
He is contention for City’s next two games against Leicester and Madrid if he is able to prove his fitness.
