Raheem Sterling told he should quit football and ‘just go to Ibiza’ | Football

Former Netherlands international Rene van der Gijp has taken aim at Raheem Sterling after his latest poor showing for Feyenoord, advising the forward to hold up his boots and ‘just go to Ibiza’.

Sterling ended his stick with Chelsea by mutual agreement at the top of January and went on to sign for Feyenoord as a free agent, despite reported interest from the likes of West Ham, Crystal Palace and Fulham.

The 31-year-old didn’t play a single minute for Chelsea in the primary of the campaign after coming back from an underwhelming loan spell with Arsenal and sought a move overseas within the hope of resurrecting his profession.

But Sterling, once considered among the many finest attacking talents in English football, has flattered to deceive for probably the most part in his first five appearances within the Dutch Eredivisie.

An assist in Feyenoord’s comeback victory over Excelsior stays Sterling’s only direct goal contribution for his latest side – something the four-time Premier League winner will look to enhance after the international break.

Sterling was especially unconvincing against Ajax last weekend and Feyenoord head coach Robin van Persie had seen enough by the fifty fifth minute, hauling the winger off for Leo Sauer as his side looked for an equaliser.

That leveller duly arrived late on as Jakub Moder struck from the penalty spot to cancel out Sean Steur’s opener and second-placed Feyenoord ultimately needed to accept a 1-1 draw.

Discussing Sterling’s less-than-impressive display in Rotterdam, ex-PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands winger Van der Gijp said on the Willem & Wessel podcast: ‘He should just go to Robin van Persie and say: let’s stop this. This isn’t going to work.

‘This isn’t good for me, for you, or for the club. You’re not likely helping anyone with this.

‘He should just go to Ibiza, placed on his swimming trunks and eat a delicious paella along with his wife.

‘Then he’d be having an amazing time. But this isn’t going to work out for him anymore. What a shame.’

Van der Gijp’s fellow podcaster, Willem van Hanegem agreed that Sterling appeared well past his best and Feyenoord could also be higher off simply cutting their losses.

‘He just wasn’t there again, no. If I were them, I’d ask for my a reimbursement and say: just go home,’ the previous Feyenoord and Netherlands midfielder argued.

‘You shouldn’t put a player like that through. He was once a great player; he was still fit and fast, but that’s about it. If he bumps into you, he falls over. Isn’t that crazy?

‘You shouldn’t do this yourself as a player either. If he lacks speed and has the ball, they simply walk right over him. That’s pointless.’

Despite Sterling’s apparent struggles, Van Hanegem doesn’t expect the England international to be dropped for Feyenoord’s next match against FC Volendam.

‘We aren’t waiting for that because we’ve already said six times that he isn’t ok,’ he added.

‘I don’t think it’s just us, but an entire lot of individuals.’

After Feyenoord’s draw with Ajax, Van Persie admitted he was keen to see Sterling make more of an ‘impact’ each out and in of possession.

‘An important thing is winning matches during this era of Raheem getting fitter and fitter,’ the ex-Arsenal, Manchester United and Netherlands striker told reporters shortly after the ultimate whistle.

‘I do respect and acknowledge where he’s coming from, but at the identical time now we have to deliver as a club. Now we have to find yourself second, it’s so simple as that.

‘I imagine he’s making steps by way of fitness, by way of what he delivers.

‘At the identical time, I would like to see more impact off the ball, more impact on the ball.’

Sterling signed a short-term take care of Feyenoord within the winter, which runs through to the top of the season.

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