De Bruyne: I got it so wrong on Sterling

KEVIN De Bruyne has admitted he thought Raheem Sterling was “a bit of a d***head” before they became team-mates. The pair joined Manchester City in the summer of 2015 in big-money deals and De Bruyne, who cost £55million from Wolfsburg, had reservations about Sterling, who left Liverpool for £44m. “Before I came to City, I didn’t really know what to make of this Raheem Sterling guy,’’ De Bruyne told The Players’ Tribune.

“I had never met him, and from what I’d read about him...I thought he was going to be a very different character. “The tabloids were always claiming that he was arrogant. So I guess I thought he’d be... a bit of a d***head, maybe?’ De Bruyne, 27, added that the 24-yearold England forward was quick to change his mind. “They said Raheem was this flashy guy who left Liverpool for money,’’ he said. ‘Then I got to City and met Raheem, and I thought, “Wait, this guy seems really cool? What’s the story here?’’ The public perception of Sterling has shifted since he left Liverpool and his forthright views on racism, and the way he has handled abuse, have earned him much praise. “I got to know Raheem, and recognised what a smart and genuine person he is,’’ De Bruyne explained. “Raheem is one of the nicest, most humble guys I’ve met in football.’’ De Bruyne’s relationship with ex-manager Jose Mourinho, it seems, has not had the same positive outcome. The Belgian played very little under the Portuguese at Chelsea and the explanation as to why came in typical Mourinho fashion. “Jose called me into his office and it was probably the second big life-changing moment for me,’’ said De Bruyne. “He said: One assist. Zero goals. Ten recoveries”. I said: “I feel like the club doesn’t really want me here. “I’d rather you sell me. So the club ended up selling me, and there was no big problem.’’