The names of LeBron James, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer crop up when Raheem Sterling discusses other sporting talents.
But the Manchester City frontman revealed it is not only their sporting talent and pedigree he admires.
“I look at these people’s mentalities and not just their ability,” said the Manchester City star. “It’s the mentalities of every great sportsman you learn from. LeBron James in the NBA, in tennis your Nadals, Federers, people like this. They stay at the top for a long time. It’s no different with me.”
The trio are not only distinguished champions, but revered for their longevity at the top level. It is what Sterling, 24, wants too as he shows just why he was tipped for greatness at Liverpool, making his club and England debut aged 17, and winning the coveted Golden Boy award in 2014 as Europe’s best Under-21 player.
LeBron James
His form over the past two seasons has pushed him into the frame as a future Ballon d’Or contender too. But he told Sport360° exclusively: “It all comes back to winning for your team and then you can be considered for those individual awards [like the Ballon d’Or]. Until then you have to keep working for it.
“I’ve not really felt pressure [to succeed]. From a young age, as young as I can remember, 13, I’ve always wanted to be the best I can be in my age group, playing above, and coming into the first team was no different. It takes time and you just need to adapt.
“It also depends on the person as well and if they are willing to learn and continue to develop and get better. I’m a person that’s always willing to learn and always wanting to get better. So you just have to keep going and keep believing.
“To be compared to some of the best players in the world you have to be winning the biggest and best competitions, that’s the Premier League, the Champions League, and also stuff for your country. So, until that day you can’t think that’s it. You have to be aiming for that.
“I feel I’ve got a long way to go to be the complete player. I feel I will be a complete player when I win the Premier League again, the Champions League and everything else.
“That’s the level you have got to get to when you are playing at the highest level. Just scoring goals ain’t enough, it’s about scoring goals to win the biggest competitions.
“The Champions League is one for sure. It’s still early in the season, but if we want to be among the best teams in the world, these are the things you have to do and win, compete on those aspects.
“Everything is set up perfectly here to win things. You have got one of the best [training] facilities in the world, best managers in the world and great players around you. So what more do you need than that?”
Sterling’s desire to succeed, and working with Pep Guardiola, has seen him develop further since he joined City from Liverpool in 2015 for £49 million.
“It’s probably the trust the manager has put in me and the belief,” said Sterling on his improvement and impact, including 23 goals in the last campaign to help City claim the league title in record-breaking fashion. That’s all you need as a player. “I am coming to the age now where I’m becoming a man now, maturing, so little things don’t get me down like they did when I was 19, 20.
“Every season I come in and I want to better what I have done the season before.”
A strong mentality has also helped Jamaica-born Sterling through testing times. As a two-year-old, his father was murdered and mother Nadine moved to England to pursue a degree and provide a better life for the family.
Having endured hardship to fulfil his ambitions, Sterling has been strangely singled out for criticism, whether it is his lifestyle, having a tattoo of an assault rifle on his leg – which was in memory of his father – or failing to finish off scoring opportunities, particularly for England. Sterling, though, has vowed not to be affected by such vitriol. “My mum’s got life, my family are well so there’s nothing to be upset or worry about,” he added.
“My mum’s just the person, that as long as she’s OK, then I’m good. I don’t feel pressure playing for England. It’s a joy to play for England, more negativity than anything, but that’s part of the game and it’s something you have to accept, to live up to these expectations. It’s something to push me on.
“I don’t expect to get good praise. If you are expecting that it’s a bed of roses and then you get negativity you are going to crumble, but I expect the worst and then the good after that.”
Sterling speaks in hushed tones. But there is no doubt he is making his voice heard, and presence felt, on and off the pitch. None more so than with his recent, emotive, Instagram post, that claimed British newspapers were ‘fuelling racism and aggressive behaviour’ in their portrayal of black footballers.
It followed allegations of racial abuse against the attacker during City’s recent 2-0 loss at Chelsea. A home fan has since been interviewed by police under caution. Sterling’s bold statement re-opened the debate about racism in football, while sponsors Nike launched a supportive commercial with the strapline: “Speaking up doesn’t always make like easier. But easy never changed anything.”
Guardiola labelled Sterling an “incredible human being” for trying to provoke change, while the player also recently backed an appeal for stem cell donors to help save the life of young leukaemia patient Damary Dawkins, and is looking to open a football academy for disadvantaged kids in the Brent community of London where he grew up.
But Sterling, with 10 goals this season, is striving to be a game-changer too as City pursue more honours. They face Leicester on Boxing Day looking to make up the four-point gap to his former club Liverpool, who visit the Etihad for a mouthwatering clash on January 3. The Reds have not won a top-flight title since 1990, but he was part of the side that came so close in 2014 when City, ironically, pipped them in a dramatic finale.
“I thought we were the best team in the league that year, but you can’t be the best team if you don’t win the title,” said Sterling. “It was disappointing to throw it away like that, but at the same time it’s one of those that will stick with me because it was an amazing campaign.”
Mohamed Salah will be integral to Liverpool’s fortunes this time and Sterling has been impressed by the Egyptian: “I’m not surprised [by how well he’s done]. “He’s gone to Liverpool and it’s clicked for him. Every player has a moment when they are good, very good and then it clicks. He’s been exceptional. But it’s about how you maintain it – and he’s maintained that perfectly and that’s a credit to him.
“They’re a great team, great players, not just the forwards but solid at the back. It’s a credit to them what they have done this season and that makes it even better for the league that we have got these strong competitors like Liverpool, Chelsea, otherwise it would be boring.”
