Raheem Sterling Joins Feyenoord to Rediscover Joy in Football

omidbasir- Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie has stated that Raheem Sterling chose to join the Eredivisie club in order to “regain the joy” in his football.

Sterling signed with Feyenoord until the end of the season as a free agent on Thursday, following a mutual termination of his contract with Chelsea last month.

The England international, who has made 82 appearances for his country, has not participated in a competitive match since May. He was part of Chelsea’s so-called “bomb squad,” a group of players excluded from first-team activities and training.

Sterling has now secured an opportunity to continue his career abroad under the guidance of former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Van Persie.

“You can see that his arrival gives a boost throughout the entire club, and that is evident on various levels,” Van Persie remarked during a press conference on Friday. “His presence is significant; he is a big player, a strong character, and someone who has demonstrated his capabilities.”

“He is here and has chosen Feyenoord out of a love for the game. He wants to rediscover his joy in football, and we are committed to helping him do that. Today marks the beginning of that journey, and we are all eagerly anticipating it.”

According to a source from ESPN, as many as 18 clubs from Europe’s top four leagues expressed interest in signing Sterling. However, his connection with Van Persie, along with Feyenoord’s aspirations for Champions League qualification, ultimately influenced his decision.

“This is also why Raheem has chosen us. We share a mutual belief in each other, and we are determined to support one another in this process,” Van Persie added. “Our goal is to help him find happiness again, and in turn, for him to provide us with a positive boost.”

Feyenoord currently stands second in the Dutch Eredivisie, trailing leaders PSV by a significant eighteen points, and they recently exited the Europa League at the group stage.