Look, let’s be real for a second. Raheem Sterling’s time at the Etihad was basically a seven-year experiment in how much a single player can polarize a fanbase. Some people saw him as the quintessential Pep Guardiola project—a raw, pacey winger transformed into a goal-scoring machine. Others? Well, they’ll only ever remember the missed sitters against Lyon. But if you actually look at the numbers, and I mean really look at them, the "flop" narrative just doesn't hold water.
He was essential.
When Sterling arrived from Liverpool in 2015 for about £49 million, the fee felt astronomical. At the time, it made him the most expensive English player ever. People were skeptical. Liverpool fans were, frankly, livid. They called him a money-grabber after that unsanctioned BBC interview. But Sterling didn't move for the paycheck; he moved because he saw what Manchester City was becoming. He joined a squad that still had Manuel Pellegrini at the helm, but he was really waiting for the revolution that started when Pep walked through the door in 2016.
The Transformation Under Pep Guardiola
Before Pep, Sterling was a "chaos" player. He had the speed to burn anyone but didn't always know where the goal was. Guardiola changed everything. He taught Raheem about "pausa"—the art of waiting for the right moment. He moved him from a traditional touchline-hugger to an inverted forward who lived in the "corridors of uncertainty."
Basically, he became a master of the back-post tap-in.
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It sounds easy, right? It isn't. To score 131 goals for a club like Manchester City, you have to be in the right place every single time. Between 2017 and 2020, Raheem hit more than 20 goals in three consecutive seasons. In the 2019/20 campaign alone, he bagged 31 goals across all competitions. That’s elite. He wasn't just a winger anymore; he was a secondary striker.
He ended up 10th on City's all-time top scorers list. Think about that. He’s ahead of legends like Francis Lee and just one goal behind Fred Tilson. You don’t get into that bracket by accident.
Why Raheem Sterling Man City Statistics Still Matter
If you’re arguing about his legacy at the pub, bring these stats. They usually shut people up.
Sterling won eleven major trophies in Manchester. That includes four Premier League titles, five League Cups, and an FA Cup. He wasn't just a passenger for those, either. In the 2018/19 domestic treble season, he was directly involved in 46 goals. That was more than any other player in the Premier League at the time.
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The individual hardware followed. He was the PFA Young Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2019. Honestly, for a couple of years there, he was arguably the best wide player in Europe. He had this weird ability to make defenders look like they were running through treacle.
But then, things got complicated.
The Friction and the Exit
Football moves fast. By 2021, the relationship between Sterling and Guardiola started to feel a bit... strained. Raheem wasn't a guaranteed starter anymore. Players like Phil Foden were rising, and Pep started experimenting with "false nines" that didn't always include Sterling’s directness.
The 2021 Champions League final was probably the breaking point. Pep started Sterling in a tactical gamble that, well, didn't pay off. City lost to Chelsea, and Raheem’s influence on the pitch started to wane.
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When he left for Chelsea in 2022 for £47.5 million, it felt like the end of an era. His farewell letter was classy—he thanked the staff, the fans, and his teammates—but notably, he didn't mention Pep by name. It was the "unspoken" exit. It happens. Seven years is a lifetime in modern football, and eventually, the spark just goes out.
What Most People Forget
Everyone talks about the goals, but nobody talks about his durability. Raheem was a tank. He made 339 appearances for City. He was rarely injured and always available for the high-press system that Pep demands. If you don't run, you don't play for Guardiola. Sterling ran more than almost anyone.
He also became a leader off the pitch. His MBE in 2021 for services to racial equality in sport wasn't just a PR stunt; it was a recognition of him using his platform at the biggest club in England to actually say something.
How to Evaluate His City Career Today
If you want to truly understand his impact, stop looking at the highlight reels of his misses and start looking at how City’s attack functioned when he was at his peak. He stretched the pitch. He gave Kevin De Bruyne a target for those whipped-in crosses. He made the "Centurions" season possible.
What you should do next:
- Check the Archive: Go watch the 2018/19 season highlights. Focus on his off-the-ball movement; it’s a masterclass in modern positioning.
- Compare the Eras: Look at how City's wingers play now (Grealish, Doku) versus the Sterling/Sané era. It’s a completely different tactical philosophy.
- Acknowledge the Legacy: Recognize that while he might be at Arsenal now (via Chelsea), his most productive years were spent in blue. He is, by any objective metric, a Manchester City legend.
Sterling’s story at City is one of massive highs and a slightly muted end. But don't let the exit cloud the reality: for a solid five years, he was the heartbeat of the most dominant team England has ever seen.