Raheem Sterling’s loan at Arsenal has come to an end, with the star set to return to his parent club, Chelsea, this summer.
The end of the Premier League season marks a disappointing campaign for the Gunners, and by extension, Raheem Sterling too.
While initially signed as competition, with quality in depth added for the frontline, the forward was unable to make much of an impact.
Sterling was unable to impress at the Emirates Stadium in his short stay, failing to score a single league goal in his time.
Even when Arsenal suffered from injury problems, the experienced star was unable to make an impact on the team.
With that nightmare spell now over for all parties involved, the loan does hark back to something Arsene Wenger once said about Sterling that has since come true.
Arsene Wenger downplayed Raheem Sterling comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for one reason
While Raheem Sterling’s loan at Arsenal may have been a failure, it wasn’t that long ago that he was viewed as one of the best in European football.
Bursting onto the scene at Liverpool, the forward made a big-money switch to Manchester City, becoming one of their key players over some dominant years with Pep Guardiola.
Sterling was often at the forefront of everything the Cityzens managed, causing problems with his pace and trickery, while arriving at the right time to score.
Despite being among the best at the time, former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger tried to downplay comparisons between the winger and the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, due to his output and longevity.
Speaking on BeIN Sports in 2019, the Frenchman said: “You always have to be careful. I personally like Sterling, but when you talk about these guys [Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi], you are talking about 50 goals a season for ten seasons.
“So, I think personally that he is not there, but he is one of the prominent players in the [Premier] League, which is one of the best in Europe.”
Wenger was proven to be right, as Sterling has since struggled at Chelsea and now at Arsenal, unable to continue those top-level performances for an extended period.
It now begs the question of what is next for Raheem Sterling and his career?
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What’s next for Raheem Sterling after failed Arsenal transfer?
Raheem Sterling will return to Chelsea this summer, following his season-long loan spell at Arsenal, with the Gunners opting against a permanent move.
With a deal remaining until 2027 at Stamford Bridge, the England international faces a difficult question about what’s next for him.
A move to stay in the Premier League is a possibility, depending on which clubs want to take a chance on Sterling.
Meanwhile, a move abroad could be more plausible, with plenty of interest shown over the past year.
It remains to be seen where he could move, but it seems unlikely that a top club in England will eye a deal after his latest struggles.
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