Raheem Sterling is having another brilliant season for Manchester City but no one is talking about him winning the Player of the Year awards and Raheem Sterling believes that's partially to do with the colour of his skin.
There's no doubting just how good Raheem Sterling is and how much he's improved under Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City forward has 15 goals and nine assists in 27 Premier League appearances this season.
The forward was roundly criticised for his performances for England during Euro 2016, when he was substituted at half time against Wales, but Guardiola has helped to turn his career around since then.
In more recent times the City forward has found adversity in battling racism, whether that being abused by Chelsea fans or having to stand up to how he is portrayed by parts of the media.
Advert
On BT Sport on Tuesday night Gary Lineker and pundits Rio Ferdinand and Joleon Lescott were discussing Sterling's brilliant season and Lineker put it to the panel that if the 24 year old was underrated because he's English.
Ferdinand though revealed he thinks the player's skin colour also has something to do with it:
Discussing how brilliant Sterling has been in answering his critics Ferdinand added, "Not only is he maturing on the pitch but off the pitch how he is carrying himself is a testament to him and other young players of every cultures can a note from what he is doing.
Advert
"He is showing it is beneficial to talk. If you can talk eloquently and do it at the right time then you will get you point across in the right way."
Taking to social media after the game at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, where fans were seen to be shouting abuse at him, the former Liverpool player took to social media to say, "Regarding what was said at the Chelsea game as you can see by my reaction I just had to laugh because I don't expect no better. For example you have two young players starting out there careers both play for the same team, both have done the right thing. Which is buy a new house for there mothers who have put in a lot of time and love into helping them get where they are, but look how the newspapers get their message across for the young black player and then for the young white payer."
Should Sterling be in line to win the Player of the Year awards at the end of the season?
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, Player Of The Year, Football News, Premier League, Ballon d'Or, Rio Ferdinand, Champions League, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling
