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Gary Neville believes Liverpool are at risk of becoming a ‘provincial club’ if they continue to live in the past.
The future of star forward Raheem Sterling took a new twist this week after agent Aidy Ward told the Evening Standard that his client would definitely not sign a new contract at Anfield, even if Liverpool offered him a staggering £900,000-a-week deal.
While manager Brendan Rodgers insists that Sterling will not be sold and made to honour the remaining two-years of his contract, former Manchester United star Gary Neville believes the club risk becoming a ‘provincial ‘ club in English football.
“The harsh reality for the club is that this [Sterling] situation has been 15 years in the making,” wrote Neville in his column for the Daily Telegraph.
“When it comes to representing young players, the onus should be on protecting and supporting them; maintain your dignity and keep out of the headlines.
“But has Raheem Sterling really let Liverpool down by suggesting he wants to leave or is he just a kid who wants to play football and win trophies?”
“There is a wider context to this story and it centres on how Liverpool have gone from being from one of Europe’s great superpowers to one which is in danger of becoming a provincial club.”
Sterling’s exit would come as a major blow to Liverpool, with the club having already seen Luis Suarez depart last summer, while Steven Gerrard will join MLS side LA Galaxy this summer, and Neville believes that this would never have happened at Old Trafford.
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“The prospect of losing Sterling will be a major concern for everybody connected to the club, but the uncomfortable truth is that this is nothing new for Liverpool,” he continued.
“Just look back over the past 10-15 years and count the number of players who have left Anfield to pursue bigger and better things elsewhere.
“Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez have all gone.
“Steven Gerrard is also being allowed to leave and, although his circumstances are different, there is no way in a million years that Liverpool should be allowing him to pack up and sign for LA Galaxy.
“If you compare Liverpool to Manchester United over the same period of time, I can think of only one player - Cristiano Ronaldo - who left when he wanted to go, rather than when Sir Alex Ferguson wanted it to happen.”
