Poveda’s grateful for support from ‘big bro’ Sterling
RAHEEM Sterling has listened to Pep Guardiola and the City coaching staff to become one of the world’s best footballers.
And the 24-year-old is now passing on his knowledge and experience to fledgling star Ian Carlo Poveda at the Etihad. Sterling has become one of the unofficial leaders at City, and has established himself as one of the voices worth listening to beyond football with major brands rushing to sign him up.
Having taken an interest in Jadon Sancho’s career and always willing to offer other young players advice regardless of their club, the City forward has grown close to 19-year-old Poveda.
The pair have both come up north from west London academies to pursue their football dreams and their games are similar with both compensating for their lack of height with excellent control and a low centre of gravity that makes them dangerous running at defenders. Poveda caught the eye of Guardiola and was a familiar face in the first-team squad before making his debut at Burton last season, and is now an ever-present in training. As well as often being found next to Sterling whenever he is part of a travelling squad, the teenager also gets regular tips on how to improve his game.
While neither would necessarily admit it to the other, it is a friendship that both enjoy.
“Raheem’s like my big bro, I appreciate him a lot,” he told M.E.N Sport. “There’s small advice he gives me in training sessions and it just shows that he cares and I appreciate it. Even if I don’t tell him, I listen a lot and think it’s true and then try to implement it in my games all the time.
“I’m glad that Raz helps me out a lot, it helps me all the time. It’s tips on the pitch like positioning and runs and things to do. Off the pitch as well he gives me great advice because I’m a young player and there are certain things I haven’t experienced yet but he helps me a lot and I appreciate that.”
Poveda in turn is also helping those younger than him out whenever he gets a chance. He was one of four players in the Under-21s team on Tuesday night with firstteam experience and kept his head as the youngsters came from behind to earn a draw in normal time before progressing past Shrewsbury on penalties, with Poveda scoring the decisive spot-kick.
Balancing his time between the squads, the young forward is happy to help out wherever he can with potential opportunities looming in the domestic cups.
“Having young players in the team I have to help them out and it’s good to see that they’re learning and improving as well,” he said. “I train with the first team every day and it’s really good, I’m learning every day new things. I just have to knuckle down and keep working hard and wait for my opportunity and when it comes I’ll take it.”