ealingfox Posted 1 April 2015 Posted 1 April 2015 Raheem Sterling: Liverpool forward turns down new dealBy Natalie PirksBBC sports correspondent Raheem Sterling has told BBC Sport he is not a "money-grabbing 20-year-old" after confirming he has turned down a new £100,000-a-week Liverpool deal. He also says he will not discuss a new contract with the Reds until the summer, no matter how big a deal he might be offered in the meantime. "It's not about the money at all," the England forward said. "It's never been about money. I talk about winning trophies throughout my career. That's all I talk about." He added: "I don't talk about how many cars I'm going to drive, how many houses I've got. I just purely want to be the best I can be." Liverpool's last piece of silverware came in 2012, when they beat Cardiff on penalties to win the League Cup. Sterling, who joined the Reds from QPR in 2010, did not become a first-team regular until the following season. "I don't want to be perceived as a money-grabbing 20-year-old," said the player, who has two years left on a contract worth £35,000 a week. BBC sports correspondent Natalie Pirks:"I've interviewed Raheem Sterling before and he comes across as quiet and considered, certainly shy around the television cameras. This time it was much the same, but I could sense palpable frustration at everything that has been said and written about him recently. More upsetting for him was the way some Liverpool fans now perceive him as a mercenary. He saw this interview as a chance to put the record straight." "I just want to be seen as a kid who loves to play football and to do the best for the team." Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said in February that Sterling had been offered an "incredible deal for a young player" but now accepts talks will have to wait until the summer. "I am sure it will be resolved and the concentration for Raheem is now on his football and it is clear the terms of when those talks will begin again," Rodgers said last month. In the interview with the BBC, Sterling also said he would have accepted less than £100,000 a week had he been offered a new deal this time last year, when the Reds were chasing the Premier League title. "If, at that point in time, I was offered a contract, I most definitely would have signed straight away, probably for far less money than being said now," he said. "I just think the timing was a bit off." Sterling's future has been a source of almost endless speculation, with stories tipping him for a move to Manchester City, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. "I try to kill it off, but I don't think the public can see it that way," Sterling said. "I think they just see it as this 20-year-old boy being greedy. "I just want to take the time to think about what I've achieved in my career so far, where I need to go and what I need to do to get better as a player." Sterling said it was "quite flattering" to be linked with the Gunners, a team Liverpool visit in the Premier League on Saturday (kick-off 12:45 BST). "I try to just block everything out and do well," said Sterling, who has 14 England caps. "Next game is against Arsenal and I want to do my best. I won't be hiding. As I said, I'm just happy to be playing football." In his interview, Sterling said one of his targets for the remainder of the season was to help Liverpool win the FA Cup. If they beat Blackburn in a replay next week, the Reds will face Aston Villa in the semi-finals at Wembley on 19 April. Raheem Sterling exclusively told the BBC that he has already turned down an £100,000-a-week offer "I want to win something at the end of the season and the FA Cup's a great chance," Sterling said. Liverpool, who finished second to Manchester City in the Premier League last season, have already had to deal with the loss of two key players. Striker Luis Suarez joined Barcelona last summer, while influential captain Steven Gerrard will leave the club at the end of the season. The potential departure of Sterling, who scored his first senior goal for England in a 4-0 win over Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday, would be another big blow. "I just want to focus on football and, when it gets to the end of the season, assess my position as a 20-year-old player playing in the Premier League," the Jamaican-born forward said. If you want to hear more from Sterling, you can read some of his thoughts below or watch the embedded interview. On speaking out now:"I keep hearing I've rejected all sorts of contracts. Me, the club and my reps have spoken about it and put talks on hold until end of season, so it's frustrating to hear the contract situation keep going on and on. I just wanted to get my point across on the whole thing." Play media Jump media player Media player help Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. Raheem Sterling - the extended interview On his future:"In my head I've sat down and thought about it. But, at the end of the season, I just want to sit down with the club and my representatives. I will definitely give guarantees when the season has finished." On rejecting a £100,000-a-week deal:"When I started out at QPR, I would never have dreamt of this day, to have such a huge offer in front of me. I'm really thankful. I just want to solely focus on my football right now. I want to win something at the end of the season and the FA Cup's a great chance." On accusations he is greedy:"The public just think you want more and that's not the case at this moment in time. I'm just a kid that loves playing football. That's how it's been since I was a young kid. I've never ever wanted to demand anything off no-one, I'm just trying to demand the best of myself." On criticism from former players:"I want the best for me and I want to reach my goals that I set out as a young kid. They've had their dreams when they were playing and that's no different for me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I won't really take any notice of what they're saying." On the constant contract speculation:"The fans get a bit frustrated with me because I'm not signing straight away. They can get on your back a little bit, but this is football and you have to accept these things. I try to block it out of my head, which is the whole reason why I've said I want to wait till the end of the season." On what Liverpool fans might think:"I would never want the fans to think bad of me, to think I just want as much money for myself. I want them to understand it's been a bit much for me this season, with everyone talking about it every minute." On playing abroad:"Everyone's dream growing up is seeing themselves in an away kit somewhere in a sunny country. But, in reality, I'm happy to be playing for Liverpool and trying to win trophies." On Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers:"I speak to Brendan on good terms. He calls me when he needs to talk to me and I can talk to him when I want. There's nothing bad to say or think about Brendan. He's been really good to me since I came into the team and he's always tried to help me." "The club has offered an incredible deal for a young player," Rodgers said earlier in the season On the departures of Suarez and Gerrard:"You really want to be working with world-class players day in, day out. It's obviously left a little dent, these two world-class superstars leaving, but I think we have good players coming through at Liverpool." Sadly not an April Fool. "Raheem Sterling has told BBC Sport he is not a "money-grabbing 20-year-old" after confirming he has turned down a new £100,000-a-week Liverpool deal." Hmmmm.
ScouseFox Posted 1 April 2015 Posted 1 April 2015 don't blame him. if i was boss at footy and knew the club i was at wanted to keep me at any cost but also that nearly any other club in the world would happily try and "outbid" them for my services i'd reject offers until a genuinely un-rejectable one arrived. £100k a week at a europa league team isn't a great deal. and certainly not the best he'll get if he holds out a bit.
ealingfox Posted 1 April 2015 Author Posted 1 April 2015 don't blame him. if i was boss at footy and knew the club i was at wanted to keep me at any cost but also that nearly any other club in the world would happily try and "outbid" them for my services i'd reject offers until a genuinely un-rejectable one arrived. £100k a week at a europa league team isn't a great deal. and certainly not the best he'll get if he holds out a bit. He's hardly Lionel Messi though is he? 6 goals and 7 assists isn't earth-shattering. He's been developing at Liverpool, they gave him his chance. No reason for him to leave yet, but I'll guess we have to wait til the end of the season. They could still get in the top 4.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 1 April 2015 Posted 1 April 2015 Looks a prime candidate to be one who isn't cut out mentally to be one the real elite players. I hope I'm wrong but this tiredness stuff and now the contract issue, he seems like he might be quite hard to manage and possibly one who wouldn't get such leeway had he not shown so much potential. It will be interesting to see how Rodgers manages him over the next year or so. So far I think he's doing quite well with him.
Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Personally think he is vastly over rated. Yes, he's very good, but not as good as people make out. Manager has made a rod for the clubs back by stating on numerous occasions that he is the best young talent in Europe.
CKB Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 1.2 million in 3 months, let's just sink that one in for a minute....
Ric Flair Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 On on hand I can see his point but on another I think he should stay and develop at Liverpool for at least another 2 years. It's not as if they're some sort of minnows. He's a great talent and perhaps there's another club and manager who can take him to the next level but does that need to happen right now? Take the wedge Raheem
Guest ttfn Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Personally think he is vastly over rated. Yes, he's very good, but not as good as people make out. Manager has made a rod for the clubs back by stating on numerous occasions that he is the best young talent in Europe. I think he's the best young player we've had come through since Rooney. Perhaps that's not saying a lot but he's fast and technically gifted. His decision making isn't perfect but it's pretty good for somebody who is only 20. In that respect on particular he's streets ahead of Ross Barkley who doesn't seem to have any idea when to pass and when to hold on to the ball. I have no idea if he's "the best young player in Europe" (obviously depends massively on your definition of young as Verratti and Pogba are absolutely immense for starters) but I think that with the right coaching and critically exposure he'll turn into a properly top class player. He probably won't do that playing right wing-back under Brenton but he's definitely not going to do that sitting on Man City's bench.
Bristol fox .... Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 If money isnt his motivation and hes not a greedy little boy then i expect him to sign for real madrid or barcelona for say 30,000 a week..... YEH RITE
Babylon Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 I can understand why he wouldn't rush to sign for them. Liverpool are unlikely to win the big honours, if you can get a move to someone who will then fair enough. If he does sign again for even more than 100k, then it does look like that's all he's after.
ealingfox Posted 2 April 2015 Author Posted 2 April 2015 Thing is he may well have burnt bridges with the Liverpool fans with this interview. Given the victim culture amongst them they're bound to take this badly.
Samilktray Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 He is a tremendous talent. A little frustrating but he's about the only potentially world class player we as a country have at the moment.
Fox92 Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 It's a shame he dives - a lot against us both home and away this season - because he is a good player with great potential. I think he's at the right club to develop though.
Benji Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Think he's suffering from the typically envious "footballers are all mercenaries" attitude of football fans. At the sort of figures being quoted as if it's about money. £100,000 a week or £130,000 a week, he'll get more money than he will ever know what to do with it. If I was a Liverpool fan I'd be understanding enough to let him wait and see where they finish. Outside the top 4 then if he's ambitious why not go elsewhere. If I worked for a company that was going backwards rather than forwards I'd move.
Leicesterpool Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Personally think he is vastly over rated. Yes, he's very good, but not as good as people make out. Manager has made a rod for the clubs back by stating on numerous occasions that he is the best young talent in Europe. I totally agree, he's a good premier league player but not as special as people makes out. Yeah he had a good performance for England on friday, but look at the opponents we we're playing. He could do with taking diving out of his game.
theessexfox Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 People have mentioned that all our players playing in England could be detrimental to the success of our national side - I'd be happy to see one of our young stars go and learn more about his game in a different league for a big club, providing he's not warming the bench.
The Railway Man Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Hugely over-rated anyway. Starting to be found out quite a bit this season anyway and with him already moaning about tiredness you get the feeling he has the drive and mentality to stay at the top for too long. Probably a similar career path to someone like Walcott.
Stadt Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Overrated? I don't trunk I've seen anybody go overboard when talking about him, he's much more talented than Kane and he's the messiah. Sterling is younger too.
Darkon84 Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 "I'm not a money grabbing 20 year old.......... but can I have some more money please?"
Jon the Hat Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 He hasn't asked for more money has he? He has declined to sign a deal until at least the summer. Clearly he could get them pay more now, but he wants to see how things turn out. If they club get in the top 4 and sign some talent no doubt he will sign. If they don't do either who could blame him for moving on? He is playing it fairly sensibly in my view. its not like he is out of contract in the summer.
ealingfox Posted 2 April 2015 Author Posted 2 April 2015 He hasn't asked for more money has he? He has declined to sign a deal until at least the summer. Clearly he could get them pay more now, but he wants to see how things turn out. If they club get in the top 4 and sign some talent no doubt he will sign. If they don't do either who could blame him for moving on? He is playing it fairly sensibly in my view. its not like he is out of contract in the summer. You have to feel that most Liverpool fans will not see it this way. They'll think he has betrayed everyone and insulted Hillsborough (probably).
Fox92 Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 I totally agree, he's a good premier league player but not as special as people makes out. Yeah he had a good performance for England on friday, but look at the opponents we we're playing. He could do with taking diving out of his game. That can be used for nearly all Premier League players... Toure looks good in the division, he doesn't look good against the very best in Europe etc..
DB11 Posted 2 April 2015 Posted 2 April 2015 Wow everyone is cynical/jealous aren't they So he doesn't want to sign a new deal part way through the season because he wants to weigh up his options at the end of the year. Wouldn't you do the same? It doesn't mean he's taking the piss out of Liverpool. Contracts don't mean anything nowadays I'm sure he could sign, get the extra cash for the rest of the season and then still get a transfer at the end of the season if he wanted.
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