Manchester City have completed the £49million transfer of Raheem Sterling, a player who Manuel Pellegrini is sure will be a hit with the fans.
The England international had two years remaining on his contract at Liverpool, but infamously rejected an extension worth £100,000-per-week before making it clear he felt his future lay elsewhere. At first the Reds were reluctant to part with the 20-year-old for any price, yet they realised they were fighting a losing battle so slapped a £50million tag on his head.
This was an amount City appeared reluctant to meet at first, having bids of around £30million and £40million rejected. Yet they returned with an offer of an initial £44million last week with a further £5million due in add-ons, and after this was accepted by the Merseyside club, Sterling underwent a medical and on Tuesday signed a five-year deal with the Blues.
The former Queens Park Rangers youngster, who will net his old employers £9.5million from his sale as part of the agreement which took him to Anfield, will wear the number 7 shirt which was vacated when James Milner joined Liverpool. He will now link up with his new team-mates on their tour of Australia, and Pellegrini is sure the youngster will impress the City supporters.
“Raheem Sterling is one of the best attacking players in world football, and I am very much looking forward to him joining our squad out in our pre-season tour in Australia later this week,” said the Chilean coach. “He is a young player with outstanding ability, and I am sure the Manchester City fans will be very excited about seeing him in action for the team.”
Sterling is now the most expensive English footballer ever, and City’s record signing. He is expected to earn a whopping £200,000-per-week at the Etihad Stadium.
