Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola have not heard of any interest shown by FC Barcelona towards Raheem Sterling but the Spaniard feels that Barcelona have enough pull to sign any of the players from his team. While he did not invite Barcelona to come and sign Sterling but he surely understands that the La Liga Giants have massive pulling power and if they want someone then they can surely get them.
FC Barcelona have been suffering from big debts as they allowed players like Antoine Greizmann to leave the club and Lionel Messi’s contract could not be extended. But with Xavi’s return to the club as a manager, the Blaugrana may inject some finances as they look to reinforce in the January transfer window mainly to get into a better position in this current season.
There have been a lot of rumours linking Barcelona. But Raheem Sterling is one such player who intrigues the Barcelona camp. The City forward has dropped down the pecking order at the Etihad and recently commented that he would love to play abroad. Signalling his desire to move elsewhere from the Premier League. If Barcelona are convinced they can surely look at the player as the move will benefit all the three parties involved.
However Sterling is important to Pep Guardiola’s plans at Manchester City. Hence they want to hold onto the 26-year-old England international. But Guardiola understands that if there is an interest from Barcelona it will be difficult to hold Sterling at the Eithad any longer.
“We have too much work to do but if Barcelona is interested in any of our players, I’m convinced that they can get them,” Guardiola said when quizzed by Mundo Deportivo on the Sterling rumours.
“The city, the club, the history and this for the coaches, for the players always seduces a lot. If Barcelona is interested in one of our players, they will start the machinery, it is an ocean liner. Barcelona, in good and bad, can do what they want.”
Guardiola was never comfortable speaking on this as he wants Sterling to stay as it hands him more quality either on the pitch or on the bench. The Englishman has been a source of goals for City under Guardiola as has grown as a player under the Spaniard guidance. But ever since City invested a record-breaking £100 million for Jack Grealish, Sterling position was jeopardised as he now no longer had a regular berth in the team. The high price often came as a pressure to play the former Aston Villa man over the 26-year-old who has been a proven goalscorer for them for the last few years.
