Raheem Sterling is leaving Liverpool but his recent behaviour should be a warning sign to Manchester City

We understand why Raheem Sterling has left Liverpool. He wants an upgrade: in the standard of his team-mates, the potential for achievement, quite probably in salary, too. So, yes, we get it. What is harder to fathom is why Manchester City have been so determined to sign him.

Do they think Sterling will change, simply by swapping a red shirt for sky blue? What leads Manchester City to think he will treat their club with any more respect than Liverpool, if circumstances change? 

Sterling’s behaviour in recent weeks should be a warning sign. Having put up with Carlos Tevez taking a mid-season sabbatical, why would they wish to go through that turmoil again?

Raheem Sterling is set to join Manchester City for £49m - here is Sportsmail's mock-up of how he could look

Raheem Sterling is set to join Manchester City for £49m - here is Sportsmail's mock-up of how he could look

Sterling (right) called in sick for training twice last week and has forced Liverpool into agreeing a deal

Sterling (right) called in sick for training twice last week and has forced Liverpool into agreeing a deal

Carlos Tevez fell out with Roberto Mancini in 2011 after being left on the bench against Bayern Munich

Carlos Tevez fell out with Roberto Mancini in 2011 after being left on the bench against Bayern Munich

Liverpool and Manchester City are not so different, really. Liverpool have not won the title in the modern era, and the optimism that followed the 2013-14 season was short-lived.

Manchester City have won the Premier League twice and are now established as Champions League regulars, but they do not sit easily among Europe’s aristocracy.

The third tier of English football is an all too recent memory, and the giants of Spain, Bayern Munich, even two or three clubs in England would all be considered bigger.

Even a brief spell in the wilderness of the Europa League would make City undesirable. Imagine if they finished seventh, like Manchester United. They would have none of United’s historic pull to get them back on their feet.

City’s future is presumed to be all glory and Pep Guardiola, but what if it isn’t? What if it goes a little flat or needs time? Is Sterling the patient sort? We know the answer to that one. He didn’t wait around to see if Liverpool’s next swing at revamping the team post-Luis Suarez was a success, so he probably wouldn’t wait at City, either.

In recent weeks, Sterling has as good as downed tools. He has called in sick and refused to travel on the club tour. He hasn’t gone as far as Tevez, who returned to South America after a disagreement with Roberto Mancini, but isn’t far short. And those days were a nightmare for City.

Tevez took a mid-season sabbatical at City and they should be alerted by Sterling's recent behaviour

Tevez took a mid-season sabbatical at City and they should be alerted by Sterling's recent behaviour

The Argentine striker was made to train alone at Carrington when he finally returned to the club

The Argentine striker was made to train alone at Carrington when he finally returned to the club

Sterling didn't wait around to see if Brendan Rodgers (left) could reshape the team, so will he at City? 

Sterling didn't wait around to see if Brendan Rodgers (left) could reshape the team, so will he at City? 

Each morning executives discussed the club’s position in a conference call. They considered how to handle the latest bulletins from Argentina, how to make certain Tevez and his advisors had no claim to breach of contract. Everything was done by the book. It was exhausting and time consuming — and one imagines a similar process went on at Liverpool over the last week, too.

Why would City then risk importing more aggravation — and at such a high price? Tevez was a proven goalscorer who had succeeded at some of the world’s best clubs. Before and after the fall-out in 2011, he was a fine performer for City.

Sterling? He had an outstanding first season and was inconsistent the next. Having to compensate for the loss of Suarez, plus Daniel Sturridge to injury, and the failure of Mario Balotelli, did not help — but Liverpool having held out for £49m, that is still a big gamble on City’s part.

There is a reason that City ended up the only game in town. They might have had competition from Chelsea, or even Manchester United, at £30m — so extracting an additional £19m from Manchester City is good business.

Tevez was a proven goalscorer and was a fine performer for City before and after the fall-out of 2011

Tevez was a proven goalscorer and was a fine performer for City before and after the fall-out of 2011

Sterling is an expensive gamble for City - Liverpool did well to extract an extra £19m out of the club

Sterling is an expensive gamble for City - Liverpool did well to extract an extra £19m out of the club

And, again, we ask... 

If Daniel Levy is such a red-hot negotiator, how come Chelsea look like moving to a temporary home at Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur face two seasons in Milton Keynes?

Michael Owen is adamant that Sterling can be adequately replaced by Liverpool and he is arguably right. It is what losing him represents, more than the immediate impact, that is a worry — plus the fear Liverpool will use the cash to make more ‘smart, sustainable’ signings, instead of a marquee acquisition to replace like for like. For if Liverpool fans wonder why it is suddenly impossible to keep their best players, look no further than the words of chief executive Ian Ayre, speaking to The Manager magazine.

It was Ayre who talked of players as ‘cost items’ and of buying in a ‘smart, sustainable way’. Decoded this means that Liverpool, like Tottenham Hotspur, buy with one eye on long-term market value.

They are not about to splash £15m on 30-year-old Bastian Schweinsteiger, for instance. Yet if Liverpool buy with an eye on resale, they cannot be surprised if Sterling also plays the market.

It is easy to portray him as a money-grabber but, as Ayre makes clear, Liverpool are quite keen on the stuff, too.

Even so, there are ways of saying goodbye and Sterling has endeared himself to few in recent weeks.

City, however, remained faithful. Just so long as they do not expect the same in return.

Liverpool are heading out on their pre-season tour with several new signings, but without Sterling 

Liverpool are heading out on their pre-season tour with several new signings, but without Sterling 

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has spoken about buying in a ‘smart, sustainable way’

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has spoken about buying in a ‘smart, sustainable way’

City have remained hopeful in Sterling but they should not expect the same in return from the midfielder

City have remained hopeful in Sterling but they should not expect the same in return from the midfielder

 

Games will go on despite risk

England's cricketers have returned to playing football on the outfield before matches. In light of the ligament injury sustained by Rory McIlroy in similar circumstances, their timing could not be worse.

Yet what should McIlroy be doing in his down time? Thinking about his battle to ward off Jordan Spieth, or the big target on his back as world No 1? 

He’d go mad. England’s management believes the kickabout makes a vital contribution to team spirit, inspiring good-natured banter and competition. 

Golfer Rory McIlroy was ruled out of The Open after injuring his ankle playing football with friends

Golfer Rory McIlroy was ruled out of The Open after injuring his ankle playing football with friends

Trevor Bayliss, the coach, even said in Cardiff that he knows a freak football-related injury is inevitable one day, but that it is a price worth paying for the benefits.

Sporty young men like to do sporty young things and that will never change. 

Alan Sealey, hero of West Ham United’s European Cup-Winners’ Cup final win at Wembley in 1965, ended his career by falling over a wooden bench during a game of cricket at the training ground. Despite this, the games continued.

England's cricketers have been warming up for The Ashes by playing football on the pitch beforehand

England's cricketers have been warming up for The Ashes by playing football on the pitch beforehand

Trevor Bayliss says his side will keep doing so despite risk of injury as the price worth paying for the benefits

Trevor Bayliss says his side will keep doing so despite risk of injury as the price worth paying for the benefits

 

Farah right to snub fake shake 

A queer fish, the sporting handshake. For some reason, it is expected no matter the circumstances. Back in 2006, the players of Sheffield United were very upset that Arsenal refused to shake hands following a 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane.

The fact that the tone for the match was set by Chris Morgan punching Robin van Persie in the stomach off the ball appeared to have eluded them.

So it is with Andy Vernon and Mo Farah. Vernon has accused Farah of consistently running against weak fields, while Farah claims that after they finished one-two at the European Championships in 2014, Vernon remarked that he should have received gold as the only true European. ‘We’re not best friends and never will be,’ Farah added.

Mo Farah stormed to win the 5000 metres in the Diamond League last week in a triumphant return to racing

Mo Farah stormed to win the 5000 metres in the Diamond League last week in a triumphant return to racing

Andy Vernon (circled) went moaning to the media after he was told to 'f*** off' by Farah after the race

Andy Vernon (circled) went moaning to the media after he was told to 'f*** off' by Farah after the race

Recently, Farah has endured probably the most difficult months of his professional career, with the controversy around his coach Alberto Salazar. It is against this background that Vernon extended his hand at a 5,000 metres race in Lausanne and was told to ‘f*** off’ by Farah. He immediately went moaning to the media.

Yet why pretend? Vernon is not a pal or even a good colleague to Farah, who clearly holds him in contempt. It is ridiculous, the sanctimony around the handshake, as if all behaviour, no matter how objectionable, has to be set aside for this illusory show of comradeship and respect.

Farah, indeed no athlete, is obliged to shake hands if it betrays his true emotions. Vernon thinks Farah is a poor sport, but to affect kinship makes him a hypocrite, and that is worse.

Farah has endured the most difficult months of his career recently and he is not best friends with Vernon 

Farah has endured the most difficult months of his career recently and he is not best friends with Vernon 

 

The strangest thing happens when people talk about Serena Williams and her Grand Slam titles. They omit 15 of them.

In addition to her record of 21 singles wins, there are 13 doubles and two mixed doubles. In total, Serena has won a Grand Slam prize on 36 occasions.

Steffi Graf, whose record it is said she will equal by winning the US Open, won 22 singles crowns — and one doubles. In sheer number, Williams swept past her at the Australian Open in 2010.

Of course, singles tennis is where it’s at, so consider some other figures. Graf won her titles over a period of 12 years, while Williams spans 16 and counting. In her first final she defeated Martina Hingis who, despite being just a year older, last played singles at a Grand Slam event in 2007 and didn’t reach a final after 2002.

Justine Henin, whom Williams beat in the Australian Open final in 2010, has retired. So has Kim Clijsters. Both are younger.

Serena Williams claimed yet another Wimbledon triumph on Saturday after beating Garbine Muguruza

Serena Williams claimed yet another Wimbledon triumph on Saturday after beating Garbine Muguruza

Serena has claimed a Grand Slams title on 36 occasions, including her doubles victories with sister Venus

Serena has claimed a Grand Slams title on 36 occasions, including her doubles victories with sister Venus

She won her first Grand Slam in 1999 at the US Open after defeating the favourite Martina Hingis in New York

She won her first Grand Slam in 1999 at the US Open after defeating the favourite Martina Hingis in New York

Serena Williams
Serena Williams

Steven Gerrard was eight months away from his England debut when Serena first won a Grand Slam

When Williams won her first Grand Slam in 1999, Ashley Cole was yet to play for Arsenal, Steven Gerrard was eight months from his England debut, Michael Vaughan hadn’t played Test cricket and Audley Harrison was a student at Brunel University. Tiger Woods was yet to win either British or US Opens and Rory McIlroy was 10.

It is a feat of endurance. Roger Federer, the same age as Williams, won his first major title four years after her. This is her eighth straight Grand Slam final win, going back to the defeat by Samantha Stosur — also younger and not beyond the quarter-final of a Grand Slam singles tournament since 2012 — at the 2011 US Open.

The supposedly unbeatable Novak Djokovic has played 11 finals in that time and won five of them. There truly is nobody like her in sport. Any sport.

We are watching, quite probably, the greatest female athlete of all time — and arguably the finest tennis player, of either sex.

Serena is possibly the greatest female athlete of all time and is arguably the finest tennis player of either sex

Serena is possibly the greatest female athlete of all time and is arguably the finest tennis player of either sex

 

And while we're at it...

Southampton are considering legal action after losing Toby Alderweireld to Tottenham. 

They claim the terms in his loan deal enabled them to sign him for £6.8m this summer, and the clause allowing Atletico Madrid to sell him for more elsewhere had expired. If true, FIFA might recommend some small compensation.

Yet Tottenham’s haughtiness in pushing ahead with the deal merely underlined the loss of prestige that comes with being a selling club. Southampton may have thrived against the odds despite losing five first-team players last summer, but it harmed their status.

This transfer window opened with Nathaniel Clyne’s move to Liverpool, and with Morgan Schneiderlin set for a £25m transfer to Manchester United, rivals will continue to see Southampton as ripe for plunder., rivals will continue to see Southampton as ripe for plunder. Tottenham took a liberty because they saw Southampton as weak.

Toby Alderweireld poses in the new Tottenham shirt after signing for the club from Atletico Madrid

Toby Alderweireld poses in the new Tottenham shirt after signing for the club from Atletico Madrid

Morgan Schneiderlin is set to leave Southampton and rival clubs such as Spurs could see them as weak

Morgan Schneiderlin is set to leave Southampton and rival clubs such as Spurs could see them as weak

 

No vindication in case of violinist

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne has overturned violinist Vanessa-Mae’s four-year ban for manipulating the result of an Olympic skiing qualifier. 

CAS concluded that Mae could not be accused of corruption and her entourage had committed no offence at the event staged in Slovenia.

However, her performance in the Sochi Winter Olympics — she finished last in the giant slalom, representing Thailand under the name Vanessa Vanakorn — has not been reinstated. It is fair to say CAS’s verdict was less than a ringing endorsement.

Vanessa Mae, using the name Vanessa Vanakorn, came last in the giant slalom at the 2012 Winter Olympics

Vanessa Mae, using the name Vanessa Vanakorn, came last in the giant slalom at the 2012 Winter Olympics

‘The CAS panel accepted the position of the International Skiing Federation that a number of irregularities had occurred in the organisation and management of the four races in question, but could not find, to its comfortable satisfaction, evidence of any manipulation by Vanessa Vanakorn,’ read a statement.

The five Slovenian officials involved, however, did not appeal against their bans.

Mae is trumpeting this result as vindication. Hardly. What remains unchallenged is that she qualified by a small margin, as a result of races organised by the National Olympic Committee tof Thailand, and her own management company.

Mae is a skiing enthusiast but not a regular competitor on the circuit. The whole thing smacks of celebrity indulgence. Not necessarily corrupt, but no less undesirable.

Mae is a violinist and a skiing enthusiast but is not a regular competitor on the circuit

Mae is a violinist and a skiing enthusiast but is not a regular competitor on the circuit

 

Sepp Blatter claims his FIFA regime is under attack because of English envy. It isn’t: it’s under attack because he surrounded himself with crooks. 

The only people we’re jealous of are the FBI. They got to see the look on his face at 6am that morning.

 

Loyalty has a price 

A report on costs for away fans in 2014-15 found that Newcastle United’s travelling support were hardest hit in the pocket.

No surprise there. Sunderland aside, the nearest fixture to St James’ Park was against Burnley, 116 miles away.

This season will be worse — with Burnley and Hull City relegated, the shortest journey beyond Wearside is a 290-mile round trip to Manchester.

Equally, as Newcastle supporters travel in such numbers — despite everything — clubs often hike their ticket prices. A Newcastle fan who watched every away Premier League game last season would have paid £3,150, even with the cheapest ticket and train fare — £1,248 more than it cost to follow West Bromwich Albion.

Maybe Newcastle’s preferred media partners — this newspaper is not among them — charged with ‘reinforcing the positive messages the club wishes to deliver’ could ask Mike Ashley if he intends subsidising such phenomenal loyalty. Or would this contravene the Lickspittle’s Charter?

Newcastle United fans were hardest hit in the pocket last season and they will travel further in this campaign

Newcastle United fans were hardest hit in the pocket last season and they will travel further in this campaign

 

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