Has Sterling made the right move?

Raheem Sterling’s protracted transfer from Liverpool to Manchester City is being touted as the biggest this summer. At $49 million, Sterling effectively becomes the most expensive English player. Speculation about his move started in the January transfer window and it affected the player’s performance through the remainder of the season. The question is: Is it the right move?

This question has been prompted in light of the fact that he joins a City side already boasting of the world’s best attacking talent in Sergio Aguero, Wilfried Bony, Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri, Jovetic, Jesus Navas and David Silva. Not to mention Ivory Coast talisman, Yaya Toure.

I am also mindful of the fact that no English player has appeared to flourish at City. I have in mind players like James Milner, Micah Richards, Jack Rodwell, Gareth Bary, Scott Sinclair and Joleon Lescot. Of course, Joe Hart has been exceptional. Has Sterling got what none of these players had to reverse the trend?

Perhaps the most apt question is: What is going to be his role in a team with such attacking options? Definitely not as a striker as he can neither out-muscle Aguero nor Bony. Obviously, Mannuel Pellegrini will deploy him as an attacking player either in the wings or behind the strikers.

At Liverpool, he played his best football operating as a number 10 behind Luis Suarez and injury prone Daniel Sturridge. City are good attacking from the central area with Silva spraying the passes like a sprinkler irrigating machine. In the wide areas, they rely on the prowess of their wing backs,  PabloZabaleta (Sagna) and Gael Clichy (Kolorov). Therefore, Sterling brings more attacking menace in the wings and, especially with his speed.  And his age is also an advantage as all the players mentioned above are aged around 28 and 30 years.

Moving on to Spain, I must admit that Samy Khedira’s move to Juventus came as a shock to me. But I also realised that with Tony Crooze, Isco and Luca Modric in the midfield, Khedira’s chances in the starting 11 became limited. Juventus needed a midfielder to replace Andrea Pirlo who has gone to America. Perhaps Massimiliano Allegri is also preparing for the impending departure of midfield prodigal, Paul Pogba, who has been linked to a number of heavyweights in Europe.

Whatever the case, Khedira joins a Juventus side that is in prime form despite the departure of Carlos Tevez who has returned to his childhood team, Boca Juniors. Mario Mandzukic has moved from Atletico Madrid to replace Tevez. Juventus who were crowned Serie A  and Italian Cup champions look good value to repeat that feat this season, especially if Allegri manages to keep away Europe’s mega-rich clubs from snatching Pogba.

And talking of Barcelona, they have added fire power to their attacking with the arrival of Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid. Many are touting Turan as the replacement of the conductor, Xavi Hernandez. He is an exciting talent that will add more flair and glitz to what has become the world’s most lethal attacking trio of Neymar, Suarez and Messi.

Turan, however, will not play for Barcelona until January 2016 because of the transfer embargo on Barcelona. And the funny part is that since Barcelona are in the middle of a presidential  election at the moment, the president who wins the July 18 election (today) has the option of selling Turan back at a 10 percent loss before he plays for Barcelona.

Barca also bought a right back, Aleix Vidal from Sevilla after Dan Alves appeared to be leaving the club. But  Alves changed his mind again and extended his contract perhaps because Barcelona knew that Vidal wont play until 2016.

It is surprising that Real Madrid who lost everything to rivals Barcelona are quiet in the transfer market despite not doing well last season. Madrid have lost Khedira and Iker Casillas (Porto). But they have only fired Carlo Ancelotti and brought Rafa Benitez as replacement. Maybe he was the only problem. I am keen to see how Rafa deals with the situation.  n