I’LL LET YOU GO, RAHEEM
Pep tells Sterling he can leave
PEP GUARDIOLA has told Raheem Sterling he is free to leave if he feels he is not playing enough.
Sterling, who has started just two of Manchester City’s seven Premier League games this season, said he was open to playing elsewhere if it meant getting more game time.
The England forward is into the final two years of his deal, but has put contract talks on hold as he considers his options.
Guardiola told Sterling, right, he cannot guarantee him playing time and challenged the 26-year-old to prove he deserves to start more games.
“We are in the free world and the players can say whatever they want, when they want,” said City’s manager ahead of today’s game against Burnley. “I don’t know if he wants more game time like Riyad Mahrez, who doesn’t play and doesn’t complain, like Joao Cancelo, who doesn’t play and he doesn’t complain.
“Some players complain because they want to play all the time. But I cannot assure them and I spoke to them many times about that.
“They always have to speak on the pitch. Not Raheem, all of them. What I want from Raheem and everyone is that they’re satisfied to be here and delighted to be in this club.
“If that’s not the case, they’re free to take the best decision for the player and their family.
“If any of these players aren’t satisfied, it’s so simple, with their agents, to go to the club and say, ‘I’m not happy, I want to leave’ and we’re going to find a solution, I’m pretty sure of that.”
Sterling has helped City win three Premier League titles, and scored 115 goals in 302 appearances for them.
But Guardiola said: “I don’t select the players for what they’ve done in the past. It’s today, how you train today, how we’re going to play tomorrow – this is the important thing.
“So when you get the opportunity to play, show me. Show the world how wrong I was when I was not selecting you and then you’re right.
“The biggest athletes in the world they speak on the grass. That’s
where they have to talk.”