Barcelona, Real Madrid target set to renew contract with Man City

Mateu Alemany was the man entrusted with the responsibility of finding Barcelona’s next forward star when he travelled to Manchester. The Sporting director initially went with the plan of finalizing Raheem Sterling’s move but quickly shifted targets and brought Ferran Torres to Camp Nou.

According to reports from ESPN, Sterling is now set to resume talks with Pep Guardiola’s side over a contract renewal. Though a deadline has not been set for the operation, the Sky Blues’ hope to close the deal before he enters the final year of his current contract.

Towards the end of 2021, Sterling seemed to be losing his foothold in Guardiola’s lineup. He started back-to-back games on the bench because of his poor form in front of goal. With his form now rejuvenated, City look to keep their star at the Etihad. Given his situation, Sterling was open to a move away from the club.

Despite the renewal heading towards completion, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint- Germain are said to be alert to his situation. The three clubs are interested in his signing for the summer or a late stage in his career.

Earlier this week, the reason why Alemany preferred Torres over the English winger was revealed. The Barcelona representative felt Sterling would struggle to adapt to Barcelona, not just on the field but even lifestyle.

The Premier League star has scored seven goals and provided one assist in the league this season. Additionally, he has played eight out of City’s last ten games, scoring four goals in the process.

It remains to be seen if the Catalans pursue his signature again in the summer. With Erling Haaland hailed as the dream target, it would be unreasonable to expect Sterling to arrive too.