Raheem Sterling joined Feyenoord in February and has made six appearances for the Rotterdam club.
After a period in complete limbo at Chelsea – who agreed to terminate his contract – Sterling finally found a new club when he signed a short-term deal with Feyenoord in February.
A delay due to work permit issues meant that Feyenoord had to move training sessions to Belgium to accommodate him, before Sterling made his debut against Telstar. He recorded one assist in the 2-1 win over rivals Excelsior in March, but has yet to find the net in his six appearances for Feyenoord. Now it is feared that his time at the club may already be over.
Sterling was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw against NEC Nijmegen, and the media in the Netherlands claim that the former England international is struggling in his new surroundings.
Arno Vermeulen, a journalist at NOS, said Sterling is “past his heyday” and “can’t keep up” at the age of 31.
He also claimed that “getting results also means deciding that Sterling is not in the starting eleven”.
Kenneth Perez, a former Ajax and Denmark player, said that “Sterling no longer fits” the profile Robin van Persie wants in his team, claiming that he “can’t run” and “can’t win duels”.
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The most devastating analysis came from Jeroen Elshoff in the NOS Football podcast, where he said that the former Liverpool and Manchester City winger has “contributed nothing” and sees no way back for him in the starting eleven.
He stated: “Apart from one lovely through pass, Sterling contributed nothing. He can’t run anymore. You have to fight, work hard and play disciplined football, and at his level that just doesn’t happen.”
“I don’t think Van Persie is going to put him back in the starting eleven anytime soon.”
In an equally brutal comment, Arman Avsaroglu said that Van Persie feels that “Sterling can’t help him”, which explains why he has been given little game time since he arrived.
Sterling’s deal only lasts until the end of the current season, and there has been a lot of negativity surrounding his performances.
But earlier, Van Persie defended the winger after the criticism, pointing out that he would naturally lack match rhythm after going almost a year without playing.
“If you have a little understanding of the context – where he comes from, what he’s achieved in the past, and that he hasn’t had any team training for months,” Van Persie said.
“I understand that there are expectations of an absolute top player, but to criticize him in that way after half an hour. His first half hour in six months. Then you really don’t understand anything at all.”
Feyenoord, who are second in the Eredivisie, are back in action on Saturday when they host Groningen at De Kuip.
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