The difficult start of Raheem Sterling at Feyenoord has sparked strong reactions in the Netherlands and on social media. After the 2–1 defeat against SC Telstar, an Instagram account harshly criticized the English winger’s debut, questioning his level, motivation, and even suggesting that his career was nearing its end.
Signed as a free agent until the end of the season, Sterling has yet to convince and is already under intense scrutiny.
Faced with what many saw as excessive mockery, Jack Grealish stepped in publicly to defend his former international teammate. Currently on loan at Everton F.C. from Manchester City F.C., Grealish strongly condemned the online abuse, reminding critics that Sterling had not played for a long time and deserved respect.
His reaction highlighted growing concerns about player treatment on social media and offered rare public support at a fragile moment for Sterling.