Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling is high up on the radar for FC Barcelona. The Catalan giants are keen on getting him aboard in the coming summer, as it will be impossible to get him in January, having already taken Ferran Torres from them for a fee of around 55 million euros. It is also being reported now that Sterling is learning Spanish and is keen on heading to Spain.
Head coach Xavi Hernandez is said to be a great admirer of the England international and is desperate for him to join his project as he looks to turn the tide around.
Sterling has 18 months left on his contract and does not intend to sign a new contract as it stands and will not be spending the final year of his existing deal. The Blaugrana could accommodate a move by paying a requisite fee.
City boss Pep Guardiola, who played a crucial role in transforming Sterling into one of the best wingers in the world, has previosuly mentioned that he will try his best to keep all the players intact, but if someone wishes to leave, he will not stop them.
After scoring over 20 goals across all competitions for the club in the three seasons prior to 2020/21, Sterling struggled in front of the goal last season, scoring just 14 times in 49 appearances.
He slowly fell out of consideration and made a lot of appearances from the bench, giving Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Ferran Torres and Gabriel Jesus chances ahead of him in the wide positions.
But things have turned for the good this season after Sterling had an unforgettable campaign in 2020 Euro. He scored three match-winning goals for the side and made one assist for Gareth Southgate’s team.
Since then, the 27-year-old has gone high up on Guardiola’s radar once again, and he netted eight goals in his last 10 appearances for the Citizens.
Sterling, who came to prominence at Liverpool, had his first breakthrough season when Brendan Rodgers’ Reds nearly won the Premier League in 2013/14. He then made an English-record transfer (€63.7m) to City in the summer of 2015, becoming an integral part of both Manuel Pellegri and Guardiola’s teams.
