Raheem Sterling under pressure to deliver at Manchester City, says Niall Quinn

Niall Quinn says the pressure will be on new Manchester City signing Raheem Sterling to deliver next season.

The 20-year-old passed his City medical on Tuesday before signing a five-year contract in a £49m deal which makes him the most expensive English footballer ever.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini has called Sterling “one of the best attacking players in world football” and Quinn feels the expectation on Sterling’s shoulders next season will be huge.

He told Sky Sports News HQ: “There is a bit of a pressure on him. City fans will be the first to let him know if it’s not working out.”

Confirmation of the completed transfer brought to an end a transfer saga which began when Sterling turned down the offer of a new Liverpool contract earlier this year and the conduct of Sterling and his agent Aidy Ward also drew criticism from Jamie Carragher.

Quinn, who played for City, was left a bit surprised that a player of Sterling’s age would want to leave a club like Liverpool, but feels Man City fans will be excited by the prospect of watching the England international. 

Quinn said: “How high do you want to go? Where is higher than Liverpool? OK, Manchester City can be deemed to be paying more money, although I don’t think 10 or 20 grand should make a difference to a young fella when he’s earning £100,000.

“It’s great to have a player wanting to leave Liverpool to go to Manchester City – that’s what City fans will be thinking because over the years it’s always been the other way around.”