Rumours linking Raheem Sterling with a move away from the Etihad Stadium have intensified in recent months, with the forward heading into the final stretch of his Manchester City contract, which ends in the summer of 2023.
Yesterday, the highly reputable Pol Ballus of The Times reported that new Barcelona manager Xavi is keen to bring in a wide attacking player, with Sterling thought to be one of three players on the club's radar – the Catalan side said to be considering a move for the England international when the transfer window opens in January.
In an interview at the Financial Times' Business of Sport US Summit, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News, Sterling revealed his openness to leaving City for playing time if the opportunity did arise, saying:
"I’m not a person that’s going to complain. I’ve not tried to make it a bigger deal than it actually is. I get on with my work, do what I need to do. And I’m just raring to go — playing football matches regularly, score goals regularly... If I want my happiness at a certain level I need to be playing football. I need to be scoring goals and enjoying myself.
"If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else for more game time I would be open to it at this moment in time," he said. As I said, football is the most important thing to me — challenges that I have set myself from a young age and dreams as well.
"As an English player all I know is the Premier League and I’ve always thought you know maybe one day I’d love to play abroad to see how I would come up against that challenge."
Today, however, Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News has put ice on the rumours linking the 26-year-old with a Barcelona move in January by describing the chances of any move in the upcoming transfer window as looking 'remote at best'.
Bajkowski also added that Sterling is focused on winning his place back in Pep Guardiola's side and signing a new deal with the Premier League champions to further enhance his status at the club.
Given Barcelona's financial ruin, Bajkowski highlights that even if Sterling were to change his mind and push for a move, the La Liga side would still be unlikely to be able to fund a deal for the three-time Premier League winner.
Written by: @NA1907_
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