‘Lot riding on it’ – Raheem Sterling tipped for new role once used against Robin van Persie
Raheem Sterling and Robin van Persie both have a lot riding on their Feyenoord link-up – but one thing will make it worth the money.
That is the opinion of European football expert Andy Brassell, who agreed the England star could be tested out in a shock new role.
Sterling agreed a surprise move to the Eredivisie earlier this month as a free agent, having been released by Chelsea at the start of the year.
The 31-year-old has been waiting for a work permit, with Van Persie moving training to Belgium so that the winger can join sessions.
talkSPORT understands there were around 18 clubs that made enquiries before the winger chose to sign for Van Persie‘s side.
One of those clubs was Feyenoord’s domestic rivals, Ajax, who are among their rivals for automatic Champions League qualification.
‘De club aan de Maas’ are only three points ahead of NEC and Ajax in second, but still have to face both clubs before the end of the season.
‘A lot riding on Sterling and Van Persie’
Brassell, who had tipped Sterling to join a club of similar standing to Feyenoord, has admitted his new manager has as much at stake.
Van Persie has found himself under pressure this season, with Quinten Timber, twin brother of Arsenal‘s Jurrien, previously calling him out weeks before he left the Dutch club for Marseille.
“They’ve both got a lot riding on it, and for Sterling to really name-check Robin Van Persie and the sporting director as well when he signed and say these are the guys that convinced me to say that he really wanted to come and work with Van Persie,” Brassell said.
“I think that’s really interesting because, as you say, Van Persie is not universally popular at De Kuip, and he’s not super comfortable at the moment in his position.
“So you think that going into the game against Go Ahead Eagles at the weekend, which they just about won against ten men, and my goodness, they could have done with a good fit Raheem Sterling for that game.
“They’re not in great form, and Van Persie is under quite a lot of pressure,” Brassell added to talkSPORT.com.
“Now we know the title has been and gone, PSV lost at the weekend, but despite Feyenoord and Ajax both winning, PSV are still 14 points clear. It’s done.
“But for Feyenoord making the Champions League is massively important. I think it’s interesting, given that there are reports in the Netherlands that Raheem Sterling was offered to Ajax as well, and they baulked at how much money it was and how quickly or how not quickly they would be able to get him fit.
“You can’t just frame it in the context of Sterling and Van Persie hitching their wagons to one another, but also how the Champions League race in the Eredivisie works out, because if Sterling can get himself fit and plays a part in Feyenoord finishing second rather than third, that is another stick to beat the board of Ajax with.
“So there’s a lot riding on it for a lot of people in the Netherlands and not just those two, I think.”
Sterling new role
The England international would naturally be expected to feature on the wings in Van Persie’s 4-2-3-1 system once he gets up to speed.
But Feyenoord already have an abundance of wide men, with Anis Hadj-Moussa, Aymen Sliti, and Gonçalo Borges among the options.
In contrast, a serious injury suffered by Van Persie’s son, Shaqueel, has left Feyenoord light up top, with Ayase Ueda dipping in form.
One potential solution will be for Sterling to operate as a false nine, as he has done previously under Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel.
Yet the first time the 82-cap Three Lions star led an attack on his own came while he was breaking through the ranks at Liverpool.
Ironically, Sterling was deployed as a false nine by Brendan Rodgers in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in December 2014 – in a game in which his opposite number Van Persie scored the third goal.
On the prospect of Sterling playing that role under the Dutchman over a decade later, Brassell agreed, adding: “Yeah, I wonder that.”
“Obviously, in terms of physicality, in terms of quality, it’s a more forgiving league than some of the other ones he would have joined.
A lot of people flagged Serie A, but it feels like, in the game generally, there was a sense of this guy’s not played regular football for a really long time now. How quickly can we get him into that place?
“I think it’s interesting that if Van Persie is going to use him in a wide position, as he might, they’ve had a few little issues.
“They’ve got good wide players, there’s no doubt about that.
“You look at Gonçalo Borges. You look at Anis Hadj-Moussa on the other side. He’s a really good player, but has had his personality clash issues with Van Persie as well.
“Quite how they’ll find the balance up front, especially with Ueda sort of drying up a little goals-wise recently as well, having had a brilliant season so far, which is completely out of keeping with the rest of his career, where he’s looked a good player but not an exceptional one.
“It’s really interesting to see where Sterling will be used, but if he can have a say in the back end of the Champions League race in the Eredivisie, it’s huge repercussions not just for everyone at Feyenoord but for Ajax as well.
“If it’s the signing that gets you in the Champions League, it’s totally worth it, isn’t it?
“And then I guess Sterling and Feyenoord reassess from there.”
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