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Raheem Sterlings rökande av vattenpipa har verkligen uppmärksammats de senaste dagarna. Nu tas Sterling delvis i försvar av spelarfackets ordförande Bobby Barnes: ”Nobody would condone the use of these types of substances, whether legal or otherwise, as footballers are seen as role models”, sa Barnes till Press Association Sport.

”It does send a message to young people that if it’s good enough for footballers then it’s good enough for them and that is not desirable, but you have to bear in mind that we ask an awful lot of young players growing up in the public eye. Many of us look back at things we have done in our teens and early 20s and wish we hadn’t done them. He’s made a mistake and people are human. I am sure this will be a minor blip on his path to a fantastic career.

”Players have to be aware that there is camera on every corner — they are very much in the spotlight. He’s a young man, growing up in public eye and he’s made a mistake. Let’s not be too hard on the boy. He is under a lot of pressure and people think because he has a lot of talent he’s also supposed to have diplomacy and wisdom. In the main, he’s doing a very good job. He’s at a good club and has a good manager and I’m sure Brendan will put his arm around him and at the same time make him aware of his responsibilities.”

Vidare fortsatte Barnes med att betona hur viktig livsstilen är: ”Lifestyle is a very important part of the education programmes, whether it is alcohol, gambling, legal highs or whatever, and they are constantly evolving. We are conscious these things happen in the real world and of the pressure that exists on young people.”

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Brendan Rodgers pratade också om Sterlings rökande efter segermatchen mot Newcastle. Rodgers menar att Sterling är superprofessionell, men att han ändå ska ta ett snack med honom: ”For me it is something that, when you are a professional sportsperson at the top level of the game, I don’t think it is something you should be doing. It’s as simple as that.

”But I will speak to him on it, to see what he says. We want players here who are super-professional and focused on their football. I know he is, he very much is focused on his football and improving as a player.

”As I have said before, young players make mistakes. As long as they learn from them, that is what is important.”

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Parallellt med diskussionen kring Sterlings beteende utanför planen pågår en diskussion om hur viktig han är för Liverpool och hur bra han egentligen är. Diskussionen är naturligtvis en konsekvens av Sterlings extrema lönekrav, som onekligen starkt antyder att han betraktar sig själv som en av lagets absolut bästa & viktigaste spelare.

Jamie Carragher anser att Philippe Coutinho är lagets bästa spelare: ”Last season Luis Suarez was Liverpool’s main man, the go-to man. But as this season has progressed, and for the future, Coutinho is Liverpool’s,” sa Carragher till Sky Sports News och fortsatte: ”When Liverpool were going for the title last year I still was not convinced he was a real top player, but he’s getting really close now. He looks the best player every week.”

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Det har även cirkulerat en del (opålitliga) rykten om att Liverpool eventuellt kommer att få Theo Walcott + en summa pengar för Raheem Sterling. En som tycker att detta vore en förträfflig affär för Liverpools del är den tidigare Arsenalspelaren Paul Merson: ”If Theo Walcott goes to Liverpool, Raheem Sterling goes to Arsenal and Liverpool get some money, I think Liverpool have had the best deal ever… If he goes to Arsenal, will he play? I don’t think he’s an Arsenal player. I don’t think he gets his head up or moves the ball quick enough,” skrev Merson i sin spalt på Sky Sports.

Vidare är Merson helt oförstående till att Sterling har tackat nej till Liverpools kontraktsförslag: ”It’s unbelievable, Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world are offering him £100,000-a-week and he’s turning it down… not for me… I think he’s going to struggle. The fans will be on his back very quickly. He should get his head down and take the money. He’s been badly advised. Actually, badly advised isn’t even the word – it’s worse than that…. He’s 20 years old and has been offered £100,000-a-week. He’s not looking for his last move – he’s got another two moves left yet only if he fulfils his potential.”

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Sterling fortsätter att omges av transferrykten. Enligt The Daily Mail har dock de senaste 2 veckornas kontroverser inte gått obemärkt förbi hos Arsenal. Londonklubbens ledning uppges ha blivit osäkra av både den av Liverpool icke-sanktionerade BBC-intervjun och rökandet. Arsenal har tidigare haft problem med rökande spelare och Arsene Wenger har vid flertalet tillfällen prata om sin avsky mot rökning. Det återstår därmed att se om Wenger verkligen kommer att pressa för att värva Sterling i sommar.

The Daily Mail tillägger att Arsenal inte är den enda intressenten. Manchester City, Manchester United och Chelsea följer också kontraktsförhandlingarna. Bayern München ska också vara intresserade av Sterling, medan Real Madrid ”scoutar” honom.