Raheem Sterling's future at Feyenoord has taken a surprise twist just six games into his career in Rotterdam.
After a period in complete limbo at Chelsea, who agreed to terminate his contract, Sterling finally found a new club when he signed a short-term deal with Feyenoord in February.
A delay due to work permit issues meant Feyenoord had to move training sessions to Belgium to accommodate him, before Sterling made his debut against Telstar.
He registered an assist in the 2-1 win over rivals Excelsior in March but has yet to find the net in six appearances for Feyenoord, with worries that his time at the club could already be up.
Advert
Sterling was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with NEC Nijmegen and the media in the Netherlands claim the former England international is struggling in his new surroundings.
Arno Vermeulen, a journalist for NOS, said that Sterling is "past his prime" and "can't keep up" at the age of 31.
He also claimed that "getting results also means deciding that Sterling isn’t in the starting eleven.”
Kenneth Perez, a former Ajax and Denmark player, said that "Sterling no longer fits" the profile Robin van Persie wants in his team and claimed he "can't run" and "can't win duels".
The most scathing analysis came from Jeroen Elshoff on the NOS Football Podcast, as he said the former Liverpool and Manchester City winger has "contributed nothing" and doesn't see a way back for him in the starting XI.
He stated: "Apart from one lovely through ball, Sterling contributed nothing. He can’t run anymore. You have to fight, work hard and play disciplined football, and at his level, that’s simply not happening.
"I don’t think Van Persie will put him back in the starting line-up any time soon.”
In a similarly brutal comment, Arman Avsaroglu said that Van Persie feels as though "Sterling cannot help him", hence his lack of minutes since joining.
Sterling's deal only lasts until the end of the current campaign and there has been plenty of negativity surrounding his performances.
But early on Van Persie defended the winger after criticism, pointing out that he was always going to lack match rhythm after going nearly a year without playing.
"If you have a little sense of context, where he comes from, what he's achieved in the past, and that he hasn't had any team training for months," Van Persie said.
"I understand that there are expectations of an absolute top player, but to criticise him like that after half an hour. His first half hour after six months. Then you really don't understand anything at all."
Second in the Eredivisie, Feyenoord are back in action on Saturday when they host Groningen at De Kuip.
Topics: Raheem Sterling, Feyenoord
Josh Lawless