Raheem Sterling came close to sealing a stunning move to Champions League holders Real Madrid in the summer before choosing to join Chelsea.
The Englishman left Manchester City in a £47.5million move as he headed back to capital after being convinced by ex-Blues boss Thomas Tuchel that Stamford Bridge was the perfect place to revive his career.
However, things could have been very different for Sterling as Real Madrid attempted to bring the 27-year-old to Spain, but were denied the opportunity to do so due to La Liga rules on signing non-eu players, according to AS.
A four-time Premier League winner, Sterling is taking time to adjust to his new surroundings with the winger scoring
Sterling's former club Man City offered the star to the Spanish giants after agreeing with the player that he would leave the Premier League champions after seven years in the north-west.
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti was keen to add Sterling to his attacking stars but was unable to do so with Brazilians Eder Militao, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo occupying all three of their non-EU spots.
This was the same issue that caused Gabriel Jesus to join Premier League leaders Arsenal despite Madrid wanting to add the Brazilian to their ranks.
To add further insult to injury, all three of Madrid's Brazilians have recently been granted Spanish citizenship, freeing up the club's non-EU spots, with Jude Bellingham tipped to become one of the players to fill a spot at the end of the season.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has scored nine goals in 19 appearances for the German side this season, with impressive club performances seeing him catch the interest of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Man City, and Man United.
The La Liga leaders are reportedly quietly confident that they lead the race for Bellingham's signature with Dortmund set to command a transfer fee exceeding £100million for the 19-year-old.
locadistuy
0
Rahim Staling is just weast of money bro
just like the wasted money to send yu to schl with stupid spelling
locadistuy
2
they are just playing him out of position, that's why he is not playing well
thank you d only person making sense
jomacditz
2
Sterling don't deceive to play 45 minutes football on Chelsea.. nothing he doing for the team.
naecnoruyz
2
the coach have favourism only like useless England players. let Zakaria play please
hedaikmtyz
2
Yataceoptu
1
they are just playing him out of position, that's why he is not playing well
soscdemst
3
I wish he’d gone to Real Madrid instead of coming to Chelsea. He’s useless
mumcdprz
0
no need
FrereGilbert
2
another overrated British man. always holding the ball which he can't handle
Harkdem
1
Why he’s been playing out of position is what I don’t understand.
Lipabcdt
0
Rubbish coach and sterling
tampumi
0
This story was a big lie just to deceive Chelsea fans that Sterling opted to Chelsea instead of Madrid. The signing of sterling and Cucullera was a big mistake by Tuchel. How can you signed an expired and non-physical player like sterling for five years contract with £330,000 per weekly wages? making him to highest earned in Chelsea. Another mistake was £62m Cucullera from Brighton. All these were panic guys. If I were the manager I will bench sterling for now.
Very useless plyr that Sterling.. I never liked him
fooabmsyz
0
Useless man 😡😡😡😡
How about u Are u useful
RahmanJago10
0
This story was a big lie just to deceive Chelsea fans that Sterling opted to Chelsea instead of Madrid. The signing of sterling and Cucullera was a big mistake by Tuchel. How can you signed an expired and non-physical player like sterling for five years contract with £330,000 per weekly wages? making him to highest earned in Chelsea. Another mistake was £62m Cucullera from Brighton. All these were panic guys. If I were the manager I will bench sterling for now.
You know nothing.
Suzzan21
0
Useless man 😡😡😡😡
Nunbknoru
0
what happened to sterling?
Zuzenoprty
1
I really don't know wether Thomas Tuchel knows how to buy playerd
yanabckmpr
1
sterling is nothing
Seciopy
0
abeg he's a flop he should go there we're tired of him plss
dennisachafu
4
This story was a big lie just to deceive Chelsea fans that Sterling opted to Chelsea instead of Madrid. The signing of sterling and Cucullera was a big mistake by Tuchel. How can you signed an expired and non-physical player like sterling for five years contract with £330,000 per weekly wages? making him to highest earned in Chelsea. Another mistake was £62m Cucullera from Brighton. All these were panic guys. If I were the manager I will bench sterling for now.
luka19official
2
We are have to admit that this was a panic buy. Com we should have tried to bring back Hazard instead.
fozadkrsyz
1
He has no impact to the team Rahim Staling believe guys
fozadkrsyz
1
Rahim Staling is just weast of money bro
Bailiy348
1
Yesterday I managed to ask Goliath his side of the story. He said it was a gun shoot not a stone...😒😒Rip legend 🚶♀️🚶♀️
Strangerthings
1
Madrid dodged a bullet
muobclnpz
0
rewiklmnt
2
This season suppose be Timo Werner season.
cotelz
2
He should’ve have there. He sucks
Trevorn
2
So with the 3 none European spots open there's this; 1 - Sign Endrick in 2024 which will occupy one of the spots. 2 - Bellingham next season. 3 - Reiner Jésus on loan. 4 - Promote Vinicius Tobías to the first team permanently. 5 - Kubo on loan. And they have to choose 3 of the 5... Plus there's also other players that might be of interest to the club apart from the 5 above. It'll be interesting to see what they do. HALA MADRID
flourishdee
2
That is the past now. Some people/players just using Madrid as show-offs.
Real_HEAVEN1
1
tank God he did not join us his a defender now
rewiklmnt
2
they should have allowed him to join them. and please tell him when you see him that he should stop bumping into defenders. one on one he's so poor and mostly lose ball on many occasions.
Etilomi0147
2
Sterling needs a better player with a good pace and finishing to play beside him, look at city…..he’s not relied upon but he have so many good teammates!!
ChelseaFC_Addict
0
Graham Potter is a useless coach, u don't know what he's doing ir what his mission is at Chelsea FC
Olawaleolak206
1
He should have gone there He’s wack
tibacdrsz
3
Talking about Sterling, I think he's a waste of resources for Chelsea to sign him. His 3 goals credit not withstanding, we can all see he has outlived his usefulness, he's a real bad investment for Chelsea I am sorry to say.
mbudzeni
2
There is a reason why Pep sold him
Sipbcimors
1
Trash
Lotus45
2
He better join them because for now at chelsea he is a total waste of space.
viucdelnz
3
sterling is joke 🤣😜😂
mibacdeou
2
finish product
ariwanze
0
Thank God he didint join
U never can tell, Ancelotti is a miracles worker. Hala Madrid.
ariwanze
0
We couldn't have signed him bcos of the same reason we couldn't sign Jesus from Man city. English players are no longer considered European players, as of then Militao, Rodrygo and Vinicius have occupied those slot already. Jesus had to sign for Arsenal. Fake news.
frankMadrid
1
No no we don't need him anymore
Daymopruz
3
Thank God he didint join