Barcelona is reportedly still interested in signing Raheem Sterling from Manchester City in the summer.
Earlier in the season, Raheem Sterling was linked with a move to Barcelona but the Catalan giants went for his teammate Ferran Torres instead.
Sterling still harbours dreams of a move to Barcelona and latest reports claim that Barcelona are still interested in bringing the Englishman over to Spain.
Sterling’s future at Manchester City is still in doubt despite the 27-year-old working his way back into the Manchester City squad dynamics this season after being used sparsely at the beginning of the season.
City boss Pep Guardiola also noted that Barcelona could sign a few more of their players after they lost Sergio Aguero and Ferran Torres to the Catalans in the summer and January transfer windows respectively.
The £76.5 million-rated Sterling will be out of a contract at the Etihad in the summer of 2023, but it has been reported that Guardiola wants to have the English man around.
But with Sterling’s role in the City squad becoming unsure, it remains to be seen if the former Liverpool youngster will remain at the Etihad beyond the summer. And this is where Barcelona could come in, as both parties want to work with each other.
Carlton Palmer, speaking on GIVEMESPORT, spoke about Barcelona’s continued interest in Sterling.
“What I’m hearing is that Barcelona are still interested in signing Raheem Sterling,” Palmer said.
Manchester City told to allow new signing period of adaptation
Elsewhere, Manchester City has been told by their former striker, Paul Dickov, to allow new signing, Julian Alvarez, some time to adapt to the pace of the Premier League when he joins at the end of the season.
City completed the signing of the highly-rated 22-year-old striker from river plate in Argentina during the January transfer window. Alvarez remained at the Argentine club for the rest of the season on loan and will join up with his new City teammates at the end of the season.
City signed the striker because of his similarities to their icon, Sergio Aguero, whose heart condition has forced him to retire from football after only a few months at Barcelona.
Alvarez continues to turn in great performances for River Plate, who currently lead in the Argentine League. Many fans are hoping that the striker will come in and help Manchester City immediately.
However Paul Dickov, a former striker of the Cityzens, has issued a warning to his former side Alvarez’s impact at the club.
Dickov, speaking with Manchester Evening News Sport, said that he’s excited about the new signing’s potential, but warned the club not to crush him with the weight of expectation in his first season.
“I think he’ll take a bit of time, but I don’t think that’s any different from Pep Guardiola’s previous signings,” Dickov said.
“I go back to the likes of Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish this season to a certain extent. City play in such a unique way that it takes time for people to bed into that.
“As for Julian Alvarez, I’ve only seen what City fans have probably seen from the internet and YouTube. But his goal record for someone so young is outstanding and let’s not forget he’s playing in a tough league.
“He’s at the top club in Argentina, River Plate are an iconic club, and I was chatting to a few people last week who say he has an Aguero look about him. If you look at finishes and the way, he plays there’s a few similarities.
“Some people might want him in the team as soon as possible, but if you look at the way City have handled young players, they’re always put them in at the right time and Phil Foden is a prime example of that.
“They like to make sure that the time is right and be able to drip feed these young players in and out to give them a taste of the experience. Julian Alvarez will be no different, but if you look at his goals, then we can see he’s a finisher and his goals this season for River Plate says a lot about his ability.”
