RAHEEM STERLING has been pictured posing with a Real Madrid shirt draped over his shoulder as he praised the Spanish giants for being “massive and fantastic”.
SunSport told you last week how Real chiefs were planning to go all out with a £180m bid to land Sterling after City were banned from the Champions League for two years.
Man City star Sterling has been photographed posing with a Real Madrid shirt
Sterling’s agent Aidy Ward has made it clear that the forward intends to stay at the Etihad.
He said: “Raheem is solely focused on Manchester City and will not be distracted by any talk of transfers to any club at the moment.”
Sterling was photographed with the Real shirt – along with a City one over his other shoulder – for the front cover of Spanish paper AS.
Pep Guardiola’s side take on Real in the Champions League round-of-16 tie at the Bernabeu next Wednesday.
Sterling was asked about the possibility of joining Real in the future but the 25-year-old said “right now” he is happy at City.
He said: “It’s one of those things… right now I’m at City and I’m really happy.
“But I say Real Madrid are a fantastic club, when you see the white shirt you know exactly what the club stands for, it’s massive.
“But at the same time, I have a contract with City now and I have to respect this. But it’s a fantastic club.”
No one knows what the future will hold.
Raheem Sterling on his future
Pressed further on the talk of him moving to Madrid, Sterling said: “It’s something that you see all the time, but I’m a City player and I’m enjoying it at the moment, even if things haven’t gone quite as planned in the league.
“We now have a massive opportunity in the Champions League but I keep saying Real Madrid is a fantastic club, there’s lovely weather but I keep saying that I am quite happy at City.
“No one knows what the future will hold.
“I am a player and I am always open to challenges but right now my challenge is at Manchester City.
“In the future, hopefully, who knows?”
Sterling was also complimentary of Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane, whose winning formula he praised.
He said: “To win the Champions League so many times, especially in a row, is very difficult.
“I don’t think that’s luck, it’s definitely a formula. Some people have that winning mentality and he wins by any means.
“I wouldn’t say that’s luck, I’d say it’s something he has probably developed over his great career as a player, and he’s developing his career as manager so it continues this winning touch.
“I don’t think when you win it’s luck, it’s a winning mentality.”
Sterling and boss Guardiola have pledged their future to City despite their Champions League banCredit: Reuters
Real Madrid to launch all-out assault to get £180m Raheem Sterling in the wake of Man City’s two-year UEFA ban
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
