Robin van Persie has defended Raheem Sterling as the former England forward nears the end of his time at Feyenoord. Sterling joined the Dutch giants in January in search of a fresh start after being frozen out at Chelsea, but things have not gone according to plan.
Sterling's Difficult Spell in Rotterdam
PSV Eindhoven romped to the Eredivisie title, piling pressure onto Van Persie, who has been left scrapping for second place. The former Manchester United and Arsenal star was behind Sterling's move to Feyenoord, with Sterling turning down approaches from Everton and West Ham to move to the Netherlands.
Sterling had spent months not playing at Chelsea and cancelled his contract with the Blues in order to get back playing. His lack of fitness has been evident in Rotterdam, where he has been unable to complete 90 minutes.
In seven appearances, Sterling has contributed one assist and has just two more league matches left to grab a goal before his short-term deal expires at the end of the season. The 31-year-old arrived amid a lot of excitement due to his reputation, but Van Persie has explained the reality of the situation.
Van Persie's Measured Assessment
“When Raheem first came, I said he needed six to eight weeks to get fully fit – and have match fitness,” Van Persie said. “There is a difference between physical fitness and a match rhythm. People looked at me when I said this, but you cannot expect someone to get rhythm immediately.
“I wanted to build him up with our fitness team and give him time. I have a lot of respect for him, as a player and a man. We have had one-on-one talks, the details of which will stay between us. In those, we have shared and explained our views. I was grateful that he wanted to try it here.”
This is a more measured view than he delivered back in March after an ineffective performance against Ajax. “Those two worlds need to align sooner rather than later,” Van Persie said post-match after Sterling's fifth appearance for Feyenoord.
“We are working on that, where the most important thing is winning matches during this period of Raheem getting fitter and fitter. So I do respect and acknowledge where he is coming from, but at the same time we have to deliver as a club.
“We have to end up second, as simple as that. I believe that he’s making steps in terms of fitness, in terms of what he delivers. At the same time, I want to see more impact off the ball, more impact on the ball.”
What Next for Sterling?
Sterling is approaching another crossroads this summer, with a new club needed. The former Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea forward reportedly had 18 clubs interested in his services in January, suggesting his past glories still carry plenty of weight.
