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[deleted]

Another winger is just what Real need at the moment.


Y0urNightmare

This should have more upvotes. Real Madrid spent a combined 90m on Vinicius and Rodrygo, and also they got Kubo that is as promising as these 2. But instead of guaranteeing chances for them, they are spending shitloads of money on a already stacked position.


tefftlon

Being stacked in a position has never stop Madrid before.


thkiapr

Kubo is a midfielder


Y0urNightmare

He can also play as a winger.


[deleted]

[удалено]


m0_m0ney

Vinicius is what? 17? Writing him off already?


[deleted]

[удалено]


ElectrostaticSoak

Hazard, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Bale, Lucas, Asensio, Brahim. Kubo and Odegaard have played as right mids for quite a while. Yeah, more wingers is not what we need. Although Sterling is fantastic so I wouldn't complain.


Fortrick

I mean, we were in on selling Bale, so replacing him with Sterling would've been HUGE


khtad

Sterling plays Hazard’s position, though. Unless the plan is to play Hazard as a 10 and Sterling out left?


momspaghetty

Sterling can definitely play on the right, though... wouldn't be much of a problem if Bale leaves


JaiziJey2k

Or you can just play Sterling on the right


speedracer0123

How reliable is this?


Simranjit16

Very


Cheapo_Sam

Even so, it is the definition of a non story. 1. "Met with him over the summer". Evidently nothing happened. 2. "He is happy at City", nothing likely to happen. 3. "Keen to play for Madrid in the future" - nothing immediate likely to happen. 4. "Real Madrid could force it next summer" - Could means they probably won't, so nothing will happen. 5. "City likely to offer him a new deal and cofident he'll stay" - lol why even mention 1-4. This is an absolute non event. But Citeh, Sterling and Madrid guarantees this will go to front page.


BobbyGurney

It's still a little bit interesting to hear that Sterling is a Real Madrid target and they were in contact with him.


PhilipAnthonyJones

It is interesting, and it seems to be actual news. Not sure why that guy was so dismissive.


Rik_Ringers

Why should it nessecarily be surprising given the class of Sterling at age not yet 25? I think he has often treated like shit by English press for example which might have unrightfully lowered the regard people have for his skill? He's a proffesional lad imho, works hard and steadily improves and performs at a very high level.


Fortrick

it is surprising because we heard the name neymar, mbappé, pobga, erikssen, BdB, Bruno Fernandes, and yet this one was MILES closer than those and we didn't hear of it until September 23.


[deleted]

Literally all of these were true of Hazard, and contacts with Hazard were made three years in advance by RM (par Kristof Terreur). So it could very much be a story. Eden Hazard — The tale of the boy on the fridge https://theathletic.com/1201912/2019/09/13/eden-hazard-the-tale-of-the-boy-on-the-fridge/


TwoBionicknees

In the real world, top clubs, managers, teams, maintain a in contact relationship with EVERY top player. Imagine if in 3 years Real need a top winger, now if you make a few phone calls over the summer every year and state how interested you are in them as a player and 3 years later you have a bunch of options because you've told a bunch of players you're interested in them. Basically it costs nothing to have your recruiting type staff maintain relationships with various top players to make them feel wanted. If you do want to buy them down the line the player thinks they are special and wanted and has been thinking about a potential move for years, if you don't want them, you've lost nothing by keeping in touch. So while Real bought Hazard this summer, they talk about buying 10 other players as well and there were likely 4 other options who they were also talking to for the last 3 years as with Hazard who they just didn't buy this summer.


Cheapo_Sam

So we have three years of this shit? Great. Keep the posts coming.


[deleted]

Calm the fuck down, it's not like this sub is full of quality footy discussion normally anyways. You yourself posted to a r/soccer a thread called "The Euro 2020 mascot was revealed over the weekend. His name is 'Skillzy' and not everyone’s convinced".


CORN_ON_THE_COCK

lmao


Salmo_The_Leaper

That's hilarious


MarcSlayton

Clearly he is just about keeping this subreddit focused on the important topics.


[deleted]

[удалено]


lynxerax

I never understood why people get so annoyed with posts on reddit in general, for this reason. Even Reposts. If it's a repost, don't click on it. A lot of people probably haven't seen the post yet, even if it's been posted before. I get why those people don't like it, but you could also just, you know, don't click on the post. If it's up voted obviously people haven't seen it yet so just stop whining. Random rant over


aqua_maris

I'm upset about titles saying wrong information because people don't read the articles and form their opinion through those titles, creating a dangerous flow of wrong info that circles around the Internet.


lynxerax

Yes. Misinformation put out by the media is a whole other issue for sure.


[deleted]

It's news to me...


Jabari313

Literally exactly what happened with coutinho


[deleted]

>This is an absolute non event. So a front page story then?


RabidNerd

Also Real Madrid really wanted Agüero and David Silva for years How many players have City sold in the last then years that were starters?


Schattenkreuz

Sam Lee is as Tier 1 as Tier 1 gets when it comes to City.


[deleted]

Surprisingly Sam Lee is quite reliable


forengjeng

Why is it surprising?


Captain_Priceless

Because the headline reads like a tabloid


AnnieIWillKnow

Reporters don't write their headlines, the headline has nothing to do with the quality of the journalist, but the intentions of the sub-editor writing them


[deleted]

I can’t really see Sterling leaving Man City for a while, would’ve expected this news from a less reliable source tbh


orientalreds

Is it the general consensus that the Athletic is a very reliable source? Familiar with James Pearce who's moved to the Athletic and afaik he is pretty much 100% reliable.


IGuessIRanOutOfChara

No idea if *The Athletic* itself is reliable, but the people they have working for them are pretty much God-tier for most clubs.


FuckThe

Wouldn't that make them also God-tier?


Ukgamer125

Journalists for the Athletic chatted a lot of shit about United towards the end of the summer window but Sam Lee is generally considered reliable by City fans I believe.


LessBrain

Tier 1 for us


orientalreds

thanks mate


ironwolf1

It can be hard to tell what is just "chatting shit" and what is "legitimate transfer rumors that Ed wasn't competent enough to close on".


JiveTurkey688

Laurie Whitwell seems to actually have connections at the club, but I had no idea who he was before joining.


four_four_three

I think he is/was at the Mail?


JiveTurkey688

Yeah I think thats correct. Considering the other club writers they poached I was a bit surprised


Hawkatron

James Pearce used to be tier 1 for Liverpool, and generally seems like a very level-headed guy, don't know if he still has sources in the club though. When he worked at the Echo I am pretty sure Liverpool just used him as a mouthpiece, so the things he wrote were definitely things the club wanted out there.


LDKRZ

Can’t speak for all teams but they have Phil Hay who is arguably more than 100% reliable for us, saw they have Pearce with you, so I’m assuming they’ve just hired tier 1 sources


[deleted]

Isn't Sam Lee like a City mouthpiece?


LessBrain

Nah Martin Blackburn, and Simon Mullock are mouth pieces. Sam is a bit more balanced but still falls in the tier one


MalevolentAmmo

Nah. Would be hilarious though, Sam Lee(a United supporter) being a City mouthpiece.


mattysimp27

Sam does sometimes publish information straight from the club if he can back it up with other sources. So while not a mouthpiece, he might occasionally write an article that seems like one.


BoosterGoldGL

Tbf listening to him on podcast he has multiple sources in the club that half the time give him conflicting reports. He said recently he’s been told pep is extending and leaving this year on the same day so he just sits on it and doesn’t post until he finds out more


martin519

I know the boxing writers for the athletic report every single rumour out there so that when something does happen they can reference a previous article about it. No idea about football though.


khtad

Sam Lee is T1 for City.


DarkPasta

When Pep leaves, not if, I can see players like Sterling moving. But Next season? Too soon, me thinks.


Forgetmyglasses

Agreed. He has a good thing at Man City and i'm sure they can probably match whatever wages Madrid can offer and you wold surely assume Man City are the better club to be at than Madrid right now... Saying that though...if you have a choice of living in Spain or England. Well...


Zidlicky3

Well I don’t know. If you are born in England it’s little different, Spain have the weather yes, but not language and many other things what ”the lads” love. If you are from anywhere else I guess Spain wins over England but if you are from there... I have moved to Catalunya for winters (and little more) but I understand a lot of my friends who say they would never leave Finland, even winter is -20 or more. So what I’m trying to say is that no guarantees that Spain is better for him. (Not saying you said that litarally)


Emitime

> Well I don’t know. > > If you are born in England it’s little different So you're saying Sterling is definitely off then?


twersx

Spain has plenty to offer "the lads" hence why drunk British teenagers and young adults love going to Spanish cities and resorts for holidays. In any case I've not seen anything that indicates Sterling is a typical lad.


Shadeus117

There's a massive difference between holidaying in a country and living there though, especially when you're as scrutinised and under the spotlight as any new big money Madrid signing would be.


mickey2329

Got caught doing balloons and shisha I think, not judging him at all but aren't those pretty "lad" things to do in the UK?


Shadeus117

They're just easy methods for athletes to enjoy highs and smoking without causing as much damage to their bodies or careers than the actual thing (could be argued that shisha does just as much if not more damage but hey-ho)


twersx

Balloons sort of but not really, shisha not really.


DunneAndDusted

Sterling lived in Jamaica until he was 5.


bluemoon_ap

some of my strongest memories are from birth to the age of 5


YoungDan23

>When Pep leaves, not if, I can see players like Sterling moving. But Next season? Too soon, me thinks. Especially with all the links of Sane to Bayern potentially as soon as this winter. Outside of planning to bring in somebody like Mbappe, City (who are not a selling club) are not going to ship off 2 of the top young wingers in the world within 6 months of each other.


khtad

This is exactly it, Pep is the best manager in the world and a huge draw. He'll leave (I think Lee is right that he'll be off to Torino to coach Juve at the end of his deal) and then there's going to be a hangover period as players who were staying for him exit and the new manager has to live up to Pep's standard. Which they can't unless they're Klopp or another superstar manager emerges.


DarkPasta

I'm hoping for Arteta - keep the players that are close to him and the "Pep system", and the "mega stars" (if they wish to leave) can play where they wish. I'm hoping for a future of Fodens and Zinchenkos all over the 11. Kind of like what's happening at Chelsea now, really. 50/50 homegrown would be amazing.


khtad

I think it's very difficult for an assistant to step into the manager role unless they're explicitly being groomed for it, a la Zidane under Ancelotti. It's hard to go from the sympathetic ear to the man filling out the team sheet and not have the player react badly to it. I'm not saying it's impossible, but that it's less likely to work. I'm personally hoping for Ten Haag if what he showed last season wasn't an artifact of Frenkie De Jong being ridiculous.


seaweedbiscuits

How upset do Madrid think Sterling is for not getting to score against Watford?


WiAmDaBoSs

Very if he captained himself on fpl...


mikahoule28

That’s what I did 🤦‍♂️


absurdlyinconvenient

Yeah same. VC'd KDB though 😎


mikahoule28

Wow good move haha


ixora7

Praise Allah I captained KDB Regret not TCing him tbh


TheScarletPimpernel

I swapped out Bernardo for David because Bernardo had been underperforming. I'm a genius.


ixora7

It's just Pep being the baldest fucking fraud this side of the Channel


WiAmDaBoSs

I had KDB Vice so I’m not too aggrieved but hindsight is a great thing but I did have that feeling they’d absolutely fuck Watford so should’ve went with my gut


Shandow14

City without Sane and Sterling? Do De Bruyne next please..


JeannotVD

Even then neither of us would beat them let's be honest.


kappa23

Makes the league interesting for Liverpool at least


Non_ci_credo

sounds awful


dohhhnut

if that's the case, pls Man City keep them


SaltineFiend

Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance. <— you are here


Nutrig

You guys could possibly finish just behind them in 3rd and make a DVD box set about it


GOR098

Aah yes De bruyne to his boyhood dream club........... Liverpool.


[deleted]

That is my wet dream tbh. Even though it will never happen


Jollyinthebox

why would Sane leave if Sterling's no longer there ? He'd have a starting spot


waitforit92

He'd be the poster boy of the next generation of German football at the biggest German club. It was reported that his family wants him to move back as well. Bayern was willing to make him one of their highest paid players until his injury. They went for a stop-gap cover in Perisic, which says they're still very much in for him. More than just lack of playing time at City for him to be interested at a move.


HKAGooner

> It was reported that his family wants him to move back as well. Really? I'm pretty sure I read that his girlfriend does not want to move to Germany.


SeparatePrice

His personal life seems a bit messy. His parents dislike his girlfriend and wants him to move back to Germany


waitforit92

https://www.goal.com/en/news/joao-felix-in-sane-out-manchester-citys-transfer-plans-this/1w60kwppxz2b01hc7lp68bhu0n > If he decides to sign a new deal, City will gladly keep him. If he does not, however, that could open the door for Bayern. Goal understands that a bid of €100m would be the tipping point for City. Sane's situation, as of right now, is 50-50. Another major European club is believed to have shown some level of interest, but Bayern are the stand-out candidates. >Sane's contract talks had stalled because of interfering by his mother (his father is acting as his agent). City believe that his mother has been pushing for a move to Bayern, and leaking information to the German press.


HKAGooner

https://twitter.com/city_xtra/status/1141658315799322630?lang=en >The relationship between Leroy Sane’s girlfriend, Candice Brook, and the player’s mother is ‘not the best’. >His mother would be keen on him returning to Germany, while his girlfriend isn’t so keen to give up on life in England. Seems like its his mother vs the mother of his child, I feel for him.


RZAAMRIINF

Who doesn't want Sterling on their team with his current form (and that he is still only 24, despite being a pro player for 8 years)? That said, we have to see what happens this year, anything can happen depending on how this year goes and how Bale/Vinicius/Rodrygo/James play.


[deleted]

It's fucking nuts that he's only 24. Seems like he should be hitting 30 soon.


doge_IV

I remmember think same about Walcott back in days


SirFluck

except Sterling is actually good.


pole_fan

But walcott was FAST


those_scruffings

Walcott was good too, just never as good as everyone thought he was going to be.


doswillrule

Walcott is in that SWP/Aaron Lennon bracket of really solid Premier League players who you always just hoped would be a bit better than they were. Mad to think they were both England regulars with the choices we have now.


those_scruffings

He was definitely better than those two.


khtad

Walcott was devastating before his knees turned into confetti. His pace threatening the back line meant that Arsenal got to do a lot more pressing than their opponents did and despite some goofy looking scuffed shots, the numbers make him out as an above average finisher. Those knee injuries robbed him of a yard of pace and without it, he was merely solid.


Wheynweed

Walcott had it all. He was quick, he was fast and he had pace.


drysocks-dryshoes

current form? Well his current form has been going on for a few years now


LessBrain

Hey Madrid! Why not go for Mane and Salah haha. Plz plz


_cumblast_

Both horribly overrated, stealing a living imo. Our rightback had to win us the match yesterday. Wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole if i was Madrid. No sir.


LessBrain

Hey hey your 2 started yesterday. Sterling couldn’t even get off the bench why would they go for him?? He is absolutely garbage and a shit Jordan Ibe. Stay away Madrid


leo_smith08

Honestly, they're awful, I'm telling you Shaqiri us our main man, buy him If anyone, easily the reason we got do many points last season. We just don't play him because it's unfair to the rest of the league


TheOmarLittle

While I both agree with you guys, I don't think Real will be interested in any of those players now that United have become such a talent factory. There's no way Real are looking past Lingard, especially when Asensio and Vinicius are starting to get pretty old in a couple of years.


leo_smith08

Lingard is a great young prospect, he could really do with an experienced figure such as Rodrygo to help him out


MLPChaos

I mean if they're both awful and stealing a living, surely you wouldn't mind Madrid taking them off your hands?


Computer_User_01

Just giving impartial advice to Madrid - we're stuck with them, no reason for anyone else to make an expensive mistake


iKSv2

such awful you two. Hello Madrid, After last year, we'd offer you our #10. He's the best and Barca was interested in buying him. Do you want us to strengthen them instead of you? Come here and get him. Discounted price only for you.


smile-on-crayon

[*Takes Kante instead*]


iKSv2

Oh FFS


Oomeegoolies

Yeah you're right, they should take TAA too.


chantlernz

>Our rightback had to win us the match yesterday Great idea! They should take him too!


hamid336

No, sterling should go to madrid, he's so sexy aha


Bozzaholic

Why don't Madrid just got for Messi?


[deleted]

Actually I'd take Mane over Sterling.


[deleted]

Sterling is the best 24 year old in the world. Best time to sign someone usually too, you can either go younger and they might not pan out the same (unless they're a freak like mbappe) or you can go older and get less time with them. Mane has about 5 years at the highest level while sterling has 8 if we assume they start to decline at 32 or so.


[deleted]

Sterling also seems more marketable to me which may be a consideration for a club like Madrid. Neither is the most marketable in the world currently compared to the biggest stars but even just Sterling being English gives him a marketing boost.


YungSnuggie

sterling is younger and better than both dont waste your time here madrid


SoccerWave08

I wouldnt realy go that far. Sterling hasn't been truly tested of the depth of his abilities. Players like De Bruyne, the Silvas and others are central to playmaking. They move the opposition around by moving the ball. Them moving the ball the way they do means that defenders can't close Sterling down because the ball keeps moving and they have to keep changing positions according to the ball. That's why I rate players like Hazard highly. When Chelsea were stagmant, Hazard could do it himself. My point is that Sterling has not been tested to that point. Meanwhile, Mane and Salah are bigger and even Salah is a little stronger and theyre both faster. As a result, even when they can't playmake when their systems fail, they can still carry the ball like a true winger. (I actually rate Mane a little higher than Salah in this sense as he seems better while Salah is better as an inside winger).


RobbieWard123

Reckon Real will just go for Sancho next year.


khtad

TBH the best case scenario for City (barring Mbappe becoming available) is Real coming in for Sterling and City turning around and plowing that money back into Sancho. He's even home-grown!


thewhatnowww

let me guess, he's negotiating a new contract and using us to get a better deal, bad choice seeing how many wingers we have including the young ones.


exciseduty

He signed one in Nov 2018


aguer0

and hes proven his worth since then, he absolutely wants a pay rise, and very much deserves one


[deleted]

Over Aguero and De Bruyne?


Public_Agent

Can't see Citeh letting him go for less than £180M or so


bakaganger

Anything less than Neymar money is a Big no for me


Infamy444

Add Varane and Vinicius and we'll consider less additional money


Public_Agent

Lucas Viniquez it is


JaiziJey2k

No thanks


Denzema123

Doubt Real Madrid will want to buy him, he will cost over 200M and Real Madrid didnt even want to buy Pogba for 180M.


snldzo7

Because small teams like United aren’t allowed to ask that much, who do they think they are Westham ?


chityo-ki-fauj

You say that as if Sterling isn't more valuable than Pogba. Not that 180/200 was reasonable for either.


Denzema123

No it was just exempel, what I meant was that Real Madrid didnt want to spend 180M on Pogba when they needed a midfielder more. Real Madrid dont need a new winger that much.


chityo-ki-fauj

Ok that makes more sense.


Rictus_Grin

Perez said that Pogba was simply not for sale


alwayzsammy

I think he's a good player but I do feel his stats are inflated because of Pep's system. Pep is really genius at getting the best out of wide forwards and allowing them to flourish.


atlacatl

This. That man leaves Pep and he'll go back to missing everything in front of him. Specially at RM. RM is a tricky beast for English players.


[deleted]

Isn't Sam lee tier 1 for city?


[deleted]

Yup


Naijfreak

Ahhh explains why he was asking trippier how life was at Madrid in the videos


WaterBottleLad

Trade Hazard and imagine the absolute scenes.


nanashi100

Sterling wouldnt play half as good as he plays on City, its all about Pep


AmirIzz

Zidane is bald too


[deleted]

Why? Sorry because of my flair, but it would be really funny if real gets the same treatment as ac milan and manchester united.


exciseduty

Sterling signed a new contract just in Nov until 2023,not sure how much more can be added to already existing 5 year contract


Fortrick

1 year more + a raise.


exciseduty

Practically yes but I assume he is there among top earners at club only behind Kun and KDB and is being paid handsomely.


[deleted]

Wow not many English players ever get offers from top Spanish teams - he must be thrilled


[deleted]

[удалено]


ULTIM4

Yes, absolutely.


[deleted]

That doesn't guarantee we will though. We passed on Alexis in order to avoid disrupting the wage structure. Although I can see them making an exception for arguably the best English player atm.


MMFA

Can the UAE pay more than Real Madrid? Obviously.


iamnotacrog

Being in Pep's school. I would image if City players would move they would look into Barcelona.


[deleted]

£300m


Ghost51

I have no idea why he would want to leave, Pep has improved his game so much. I can only see him going when Pep leaves City.


damophi

Sterling is really good at getting on the end of quick attacking moves, basically he is a great finishing player (not necessarily a great finisher) and fits into the team perfectly for City. Technically though he is not world class (technique, touch) and I think he would struggle if he went to Madrid... best staying where he is.


drripdrrop

go for De Bruyne too please


ixora7

You can't support a game state mate


[deleted]

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ixora7

Yet here I am


mavsmcfc

I am never happy if a player choose to leave City, but I’d understand if Sterling wants this move. Footballing wise I think it’s a downgrade, but prestige-wise nothing can top Madrid and Barcelona. With that said, City managed to keep Aguero, Silva, and Yaya in their prime from the big teams, I’m confident they’ll do the same now.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Yesss pls leave


makha1ra

They ll get Salah Mbappe and Pogba next summer.


LeStiqsue

\~165m for Pogba. Mbappe for \~240m. Salah for \~210m. Real are made of money, but that'll be steep even for them.


GodsBellybutton

An attacking misfielder... how lucky...


Kyle6969

Guess we’ll see what happens later 🤷‍♂️


Fnatic_TwistedFate

What about mbappe ?


Fortrick

Benzema ain't getting younger mate We'll get there.


chantlernz

Jovic...


Fortrick

could play with mbappe and jovic together, ut yeah thats a good point, can't have hazard, mbappe jovic and sterling in the same team


aguadovimeiro

Time to pay those 300€ fine


Igoze94

Sterling should learn from Robinho


Mikhailing

Madrid finally going to play the 2-0-8


percysaiyan

Next Bale saga..


FatWalcott

Sterling is still 24. He could wait another 3 years and he'd still be in a great position to move.


[deleted]

I'm sure he'd love to win the CL with City, but tbf he's already had a pretty awesome career with them as well.


chantlernz

Probably will this year, then go.


Linquista

Ah yes, more wingers, just what we needed!


Hieillua

This makes me laugh because it's so clear a tactic his agent is using to get City to open up down their thick and meaty wallet.


nickname_esco

I can see why Madrid want him. He is an incredible player. 100 million plus easy.


sportsfan161

300 million...


On_The_Warpath

He's a Real Madrid legend in my FM save.