Raheem Sterling told he should quit football and ‘just go to Ibiza’
Former Netherlands international Rene van der Gijp has taken aim at Raheem Sterling after his latest poor showing for Feyenoord, advising the forward to hang up his boots and ‘just go to Ibiza’.
Sterling ended his stay with Chelsea by mutual agreement at the end of January and went on to sign for Feyenoord as a free agent, despite reported interest from the likes of West Ham, Crystal Palace and Fulham.
The 31-year-old failed to play a single minute for Chelsea in the first of the campaign after returning from an underwhelming loan spell with Arsenal and sought a move overseas in the hope of resurrecting his career.
But Sterling, once considered among the finest attacking talents in English football, has flattered to deceive for the most part in his first five appearances in the Dutch Eredivisie.
An assist in Feyenoord’s comeback victory over Excelsior remains Sterling’s only direct goal contribution for his new side – something the four-time Premier League winner will look to improve after the international break.
Sterling was especially unconvincing against Ajax last weekend and Feyenoord head coach Robin van Persie had seen enough by the 55th minute, hauling the winger off for Leo Sauer as his side searched for an equaliser.
That leveller duly arrived late on as Jakub Moder struck from the penalty spot to cancel out Sean Steur’s opener and second-placed Feyenoord in the end had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
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Discussing Sterling’s less-than-impressive display in Rotterdam, ex-PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands winger Van der Gijp said on the Willem & Wessel podcast: ‘He should just go to Robin van Persie and say: let’s stop this. This isn’t going to work.
‘This isn’t good for me, for you, or for the club. You’re not really helping anyone with this.
‘He should just go to Ibiza, put on his swimming trunks, and eat a delicious paella with his wife.
‘Then he’d be having a great time. But this isn’t going to work out for him anymore. What a shame.’
Van der Gijp’s fellow podcaster, Willem van Hanegem agreed that Sterling appeared well past his best and Feyenoord may be better off simply cutting their losses.
‘He just wasn’t there again, no. If I were them, I would ask for my money back and say: just go home,’ the former Feyenoord and Netherlands midfielder argued.
‘You shouldn’t put a player like that through. He used to be a good player; he was still fit and fast, but that’s about it. If he bumps into you, he falls over. Isn’t that crazy?
‘You shouldn’t do that yourself as a player either. If he lacks speed and has the ball, they just walk right over him. That’s pointless.’
Despite Sterling’s apparent struggles, Van Hanegem doesn’t expect the England international to be dropped for Feyenoord’s next match against FC Volendam.
‘We aren’t waiting for that because we’ve already said six times that he isn’t good enough,’ he added.
‘I don’t think it’s just us, but a whole lot of people.’
After Feyenoord’s draw with Ajax, Van Persie admitted he was keen to see Sterling make more of an ‘impact’ both in and out of possession.
‘The most important thing is winning matches during this period of Raheem getting fitter and fitter,’ the ex-Arsenal, Manchester United and Netherlands striker told reporters shortly after the final whistle.
‘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, it’s as simple as that.
‘I believe 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.’
Sterling’s contract with Feyenoord runs through to the end of the season.
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