What transpired between Sterling and Guardiola have now been uncovered

August 16, 2024 17:50 PM

Pep Guardiola and Raheem Sterling are set to meet on the pitch for the fifth time since Sterling's transfer to Chelsea, as a previously undisclosed 2021 confrontation between the two has recently come to light.

Sterling's Decision to Leave Sterling was one of Manchester City's key players during Guardiola's first four seasons, playing a crucial role in helping the team secure three Premier League titles in four years. However, in the summer of 2022, Sterling made the unexpected decision to leave City for Chelsea in search of more playing time. It has now been revealed that underlying tensions between Guardiola and Sterling may have influenced his decision to leave.

The Incident In his book *The Pep Revolution*, author and Guardiola confidant Marti Perarnau reveals that Sterling and Guardiola had a heated argument in March 2021. The clash occurred in Guardiola's office after Sterling was benched for City's 5-2 win over Southampton. Upset by the decision, Sterling walked out of the meeting, prompting Guardiola to drop him from the squad for the next match against Fulham.

Perarnau also highlights that Sterling's frustration was heightened by Guardiola's frequent praise of teammates Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, who were both in top form at the time, even though Sterling was also performing well. The combination of being benched and feeling overshadowed by his teammates appears to have contributed to Sterling's decision to seek a move away from City.

Despite this past conflict, there seems to be no lingering bad blood between Guardiola and Sterling. They have maintained a professional relationship since Sterling's switch to Chelsea. However, they are set to face each other again on Sunday, August 18, at Stamford Bridge, as both teams aim to secure their first points of the season.