Pep’s squad worth £1bn
CITY can now lay claim to having the Premier League’s first £1bn squad.
Research by the transfermarkt.com website calculates the value of players across the world throughout the course of the season, and they’ve looked at how the value of each squad has risen – or fallen – across the first half of the campaign.
City’s squad value was calculated at £953m at the start of the season in August, but halfway through the season that figure has now risen to £1.1bn.
Kevin de Bruyne is rated as their highest valued player at £135m.
United’s squad value, meanwhile, has dropped dramatically since August from £769m to £697m.
The league is now valued at a total of £7.5bn. RAHEEM Sterling has told a young City fan to ‘stand tall and be proud of who you are’ in the face of racist abuse.
The Blues and England forward took it upon himself to pen a letter to Ethan Ross after the youngster’s grandmother, Sue, reached out to the winger, who was himself the target of alleged racist abuse last year.
“Dear Ethan,” the letter begins. “I have recently been told from your loving Nanna Sue about the tough time you are having with racial abuse.
“Remember to stand tall and be proud of who you are and don’t let them take away your courage.
“You are strong and very brave, and your Nanna is also very proud of you. Keep being you, kid.
“Remember speaking up doesn’t always make life easy, but easy never changed anything. With kind regards, Raheem Sterling.”
Sterling accused sections of the media of ‘fuelling racism and aggressive behaviour’ towards young black players after an alleged racial slur was aimed towards him during City’s defeat by Chelsea in December.
TV pictures showed Sterling being barracked by Chelsea fans as he recovered the ball for a Blues corner in their 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.
It was alleged that one man shouted racial abuse at Sterling and a police investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Sterling has developed into a fan favourite at the Etihad and he came in for plenty of praise from supporters on Twitter following his letter to young Ethan.