Rio Ferdinand names Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling as most improved player this season

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has named Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling as the most improved player in the English Premier League this season

Rio Ferdinand feels Raheem Sterling has shown this season that he is the most improved player in the English Premier League and has praised the way Raheem Sterling has justified his price-tag despite the huge amount of pressure that came with it.

” Sterling has been the most improved player in the Premier League from last year,” said Ferdinand to BT Sport, according to the Mirror. ” He was a scapegoat for England but he’s showed character, that mettle to come through. He showed people his true worth. Huge price tag, young Englishman doing his thing.”

Ferdinand also went on to praise the former Liverpool winger’s natural speed, which has tormented several defenses this season and feels that Sterling has thrived under new manager Pep Guardiola.

Sterling joined City in 2015 for a whopping £44 million fee, with a further potential £5 million in add-ons from Liverpool after somewhat controversially asking to be left out of Liverpool’s pre-season tour so that he could finalise a move to the Etihad.

After failing to make his mark on the City squad in his debut season for the Sky Blues, Sterling eventually lost his place in the starting lineup and was considered by several outlets as one of the worst signings of the season.

Many saw this criticism as harsh – particularly given that Sterling was only 21 at the time – and while the English media can be quick to criticise players, there is no doubting the fact that many expected more from the Englishman last year.

This season has definitely been a different story. Sterling has been a key member of City’s team throughout and the Englishman has quietly been proving his critics wrong.

In 23 starts in the English Premier League, Sterling has picked up 6 goals and 5 assists. He is also registering an average of 1.37 key passes, 1.60 chances created and an impressive 3.01 successful take-ons per 90 minutes in the League, according to Squawka.

There is no doubt Guardiola will want the 22-year old to score more goals but Sterling’s techincal ability and tendency to dribble past players with ease has been a huge bonus for City this season, especially given his new-found confidence.

Along with Leroy Sane, City have some serious young talent on their wings and in Pep Guardiola, they also have the perfect manager to nurture them as they look to be a part of a side that has ambitions to compete for major honours for years to come.