Youngster should not leave Liverpool, says former director of football.
Raheem Sterling has been urged to sign a new Liverpool contract by the club’s former director of football Damien Comolli.
Sterling has forced his way into Brendan Rodgers’ first-team plans this season but, having failed to agree a new deal, there are fears he could quit Anfield.
The 18-year-old’s wage demands are reportedly a stumbling block and Comolli, speaking to Keys & Gray, has called on the young winger to forget about money and commit his future to Liverpool for the sake of his development.
“My advice would be sign the contract and stay at Liverpool,” said Comolli. “It is a great club. Unless there is something which makes him really uncomfortable he should sign the contract and play for Liverpool Football Club.
“I really don’t think money should be an issue. He is 18 and it is going to be one of many, many contracts he is going to sign and he is going to end up being a very, very wealthy individual.
“The important contract, if you are money-orientated, is the one you sign when you are 31, not 18.”
SOURCE: talkSPORT
Damien Comolli is not the most popular man at Anfield, having spent about £300m on Jordan Henderson, Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and co., but his latest comments about Liverpool youngster Raheem Sterling should please the Reds faithful.
Comolli has urged youngster Sterling to remain at Anfield, despite interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.
Sterling has made great strides at Liverpool and there’s no reason why the 18-year-old should want to jump ship any time soon. The winger is a first-team regular and has broken into the England set-up. While young, he is already an important part of Liverpool’s attacking game and it shouldn’t be long before he begins to add goals to his growing arsenal.
But although prodigiously talented, there is little to suggest that Sterling would instantly command at first-team place at either Arsenal or Manchester United, both of whom are well-stocked in wide areas.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is reportedly refusing to pay Sterling more than £20,000 a week but as Comolli rightly says, the youngster has his whole career to ahead of him in which to earn top-dollar so a move for non-footballing reasons would be foolish.
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