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ALICANTE.- Despite his tender age, England sensation Raheem Sterling has proved he isn’t short of confidence on the international soccer stage by already setting his sights on becoming an all-time great for his country.
Sterling (20) has racked up 18 appearances for England, scoring twice, since bursting into Roy Hodgson’s side just prior to the 2014 World Cup.
His first taste of a major international tournament was bittersweet as England were dumped out after just two games in Brazil.
However, the Manchester City winger has spearheaded the revolution in the England side as a younger core of players that has come to the fore in a remarkably successful campaign for Euro 2016 that saw Hodgson’s men win all 10 of their qualifiers.
Sterling has seen England captain Wayne Rooney and former Liverpool mentor Steven Gerrard pass into the pantheon of just nine Englishmen to have represented their country over 100 times in recent years.
Hodgson has backed his prodigy to reach the same mark and Sterling admitted that is one of the primary goals he has in mind.
“I’m not going to hide anything. I want to do my best for the country, be up there with some of the great players and hopefully achieve 100 caps in the future,” he said as England prepare to face Spain in a friendly in Alicante today.
“I have 18 now and if I keep working hard and doing well for my club hopefully I will be picked for a few more squads. I know it is going to be a long way away but that’s definitely my ambition.”
Sterling’s lofty ambitions are to be admired, but he hasn’t shied away from making tough decisions in his short but topsy-turvy career so far.
No more so when turning down lucrative offers to stay at Liverpool last season in favour of a £49 million move to City in July.
With City top of the English Premier League and having already sealed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League thanks to a Sterling-inspired 3-1 win away to Sevilla last week, that decision seems to have been the right one.
However, he had to withstand a barrage of criticism from fans and media for reportedly turning down a six-figure weekly salary to remain at Anfield.
“It was difficult, but my family helped me get through it. Now I’m just really happy where I am and to take my career forward from there and not try to look back on the past,” he added.
“Everything was going on and there were people that didn’t agree with it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and my opinion was it was time for me to move on.
“I’ve not proved anyone wrong. I just thought at the time that was right for me and my heart was saying that is what I should do. I’ve no regrets, they are both two big football clubs and I’m just happy with how my development is going at this moment in time.”
Sterling does not regret forcing through a move away from Liverpool during a “difficult” off season and feels settled now that the negativity surrounding his transfer has died down.
Sterling fell out with Liverpool and their supporters during the protracted transfer saga, which ended in the 20-year-old’s £49 million move to City, which made him the most expensive English player in history.
The winger appears to have found his feet at his new club, bagging four goals in his last six appearances after a slow start to the season.
“I’m not trying to say I proved anyone wrong. It’s just what I thought at the time was right for me. My heart was saying that is what I should do (move to City) and I have no regrets,” Sterling was quoted as saying by the British media.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are ready to flog three of their biggest stars to land Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.
Reports yesterday claimed Roman Abramovich is desperate to land Ronaldo for £70 million this summer.
And Jose Mourinho is prepared to move on three men to make his dream come true.
The Daily Mirror reports those three are Nemanja Matic, Oscar and Eden Hazard.
The Belgium winger is the subject of fresh interest from Paris Saint Germain – who have also enquired about Ronaldo.
But reports in Spanish paper AS suggest Abramovich has a close relationship with super agent Jorge Mendes and could make his move this summer.
Mendes represents Ronaldo and current Chelsea boss Mourinho.
And Ronaldo recently admitted he would be willing to work with Mourinho again despite their difficult relationship at Madrid.
“Work with Mourinho again? Why not?,” he told Marca. “I’ve got two more years on my contract with Real Madrid, but no one knows what the future holds.”
Chelsea will face tough competition for Ronaldo, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United also hoping to sign the three-time Ballon d’Or win- ner.
But Abramovic is lining up an “irresistible offer” to send to his agent Mendes to ensure he gets his man. – AFP-Daily Express.
Online Reporter