'A true warrior': Raheem Sterling's career comes full circle as quotes about how Arsenal missed their chance resurface
Raheem Sterling has revealed he almost joined Arsenal's academy but his mother intervened and advised him not to sign.
The winger joined the Gunners on loan on the final day of the year this summer, agreeing a season-long deal with their London rivals. Chelsea after being excluded from the Blues squad.
However, Sterling could have used it Arsenal red much, much earlier in his career, had it not been for the fact that his mother had advised him not to.
Forks No because Sterling's mother was a Tottenham fan.
Fans have unearthed their Players' Tribune A 2018 article in which the England international said: “(Joining a Sunday League team) changed my life. From that day on, it was football, football, football. Obsession. Totally obsessed.
“When I was 10 or 11, some big clubs in London were following me. Fulham They wanted me. Arsenal wanted me. And when Arsenal want you, of course you think you have to go there. It's the biggest club in London, you know? So I'm going around telling my friends: “I'm going to Arsenal!”
“But my mother is a real warrior. She knows how to make it in this world. She is probably the most astute person I know. One day she sat me down and said: 'Look, I love you, but I don't think you should go to Arsenal.'”
“I said, 'Huh?'
“She said, ‘If you go there, there will be 50 players who are as good as you. You’ll just be a number. You need to go somewhere where you can move up.’”
And Sterling says his mother, who along with his sister, worked tirelessly to ensure he could live his dream, was proven right.
He continued: “She convinced me to go to QPR, and it was probably the best decision I ever made in my life.
2
“At QPR I wasn’t allowed to make any mistakes.”
Liverpool He then signed Sterling when he was 15 in 2010.
He made 129 appearances for the Reds, earning him his first call-up to the senior England squad in that time, before moving on to Manchester City in a deal worth £49m.
He played 339 times for City, scoring 131 goals and providing 73 assists and winning four Premier League titles, five League Cups and one FA Cup in the process.
Sterling then left Manchester to return to west London in 2022, joining Chelsea for £47.5million.
However, he struggled to recapture the electric form he enjoyed for much of his time at the Etihad Stadium, and his squad number was removed ahead of this season as he was left out of Enzo Maresca's squad.
Now, Sterling has finally sealed a deal in north London, some 20 years after the club's initial interest.
And he will be eager to kick-start his career by reuniting with the Arsenal manager. Mikel Artetawho previously served as technical assistant at Manchester City.
JOIN THE DUGOUT
Have your say on all things talkSPORT by joining 'THE DUGOUT' – our new panel of listeners.
Our aim is to take a deeper look at your perspectives and make sure talkSPORT is the best it can be. Your voice matters and we want to hear it!
Present your innovative ideas and participate in fun locker room polls, surveys and debates.
Just by joining, you'll be entered into a draw to win one of four £50 Amazon vouchers, and you'll be entered into another draw for every survey you complete afterwards.
To join 'The DUGOUT' panel, please Click here.
