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Raheem Sterling insists he is “really happy” at Manchester City for now, but refused to rule out the possibility of joining Real Madrid in the future.
The 25-year-old is a reported transfer target for Real following City’s two-year ban from European football for breaching financial fair play rules. Sterling has been linked with a move to the Bernabéu in the past but he is contracted to City until 2023.
In an interview with Spanish outlet AS, Sterling was asked if he would one day like to play for Madrid and responded: “How do I answer that one? Is the camera live or is it just taking pictures?
“No one knows what the future will hold,” Sterling added. “I am a player and I am always open to challenges but right now my challenge is at City and I’m really happy. I have a contract with City now and I have to respect this.”
“Real Madrid are a fantastic club. When you see the white shirt you know exactly what the club stands for, it’s massive.” The England winger was pictured on the magazine cover with Real Madrid and Manchester City shirts draped over each shoulder.
Asked about speculation linking him with a move to the Bernabeu, Sterling said: “It’s something that you see all the time, but I’m a City player and I’m enjoying it at the moment, even if things haven’t gone quite planned in the league. We now have a massive opportunity in the Champions League.”
City play Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg at the Bernabéu on Wednesday and the return game at Etihad Stadium on 17 March. Sterling is facing a race to be fit in time for the tie after suffering a hamstring injury against Tottenham earlier this month.
Pep Guardiola played down Sterling’s words and the fact that the player was pictured with a Madrid shirt. “The players are free to talk and say what they believe and what they think,” he said. “So we are not here to tell them what they have to say. It’s normal to make an interview for the Madrid media and speak about Madrid.”
The manager, asked more broadly about the prospect of players wanting to leave in light of a two-year Uefa ban from Europe, which the club are appealing against, said: “I am completely sure of their commitment … At the end of the season nobody knows what is going to happen and with calm we are going to decide to do what we want, what the players want.”
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