The former full -back of Manchester United and the prominent expert Gary Neville claimed that Raheem Sterling did not have “the kind of intelligence” to adapt his game after losing his electrical turn.
This inability to develop has approved a perceived decline in which Neville emphasizes the suitability of Sterling to replace Kai Havertz.
Havertz was Mikel Artetas preferred “number nine”, but since Gabriel Jesus was signed due to a long-term knee injury and no center in January.
There is no natural replacement for Havertz, who is not really a striker anyway.
The task of filling out will probably go to wing player Leandro Trossard, someone who played at least occasionally centrally, but fights for the goal of forms in 2024/25. With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli ‘False nine’ options, but both injured, Sterling remains the only other alternative.
However, the former England star can hardly be seen since he was loaned from Chelsea, and the eight-time Premier League champion Neville has suggested that his fights in the last few seasons are due to an inability to adapt his game after such a young start.
“I think if a short player, say Michael Owen or Raheem Sterling, starts at the age of 16 and 17 and they come like the end of 20 and 30, they have already played a full career,” Neville commented on a new episode of him Stay in football Podcast.
Sterling recently turned 30, but was a regular guest for Liverpool from 20 at the age of 17.
“I mean, especially players who rely on speed,” he said. “For Michael and Raheem it is difficult for them to adapt to a different kind of role because they do not have the skills and the kind of intelligence. [Ryan] Giggs adapted and was able to go to the central midfield. [Paul] Scholes, he obviously adapted. “
Sterling’s Peak came in Manchester in early twenties and scored 79 goals from 2017 to 2020 in three seasons alone.
Since then, Sterling has been in a downward direction, with this conveniently the most overwhelming season of his entire career so far.