aheem Sterling says racial abuse suffered in an away match at Chelsea helped inspire him to find his ‘true purpose’ in life.
The 27-year-old was lining up for Manchester City against his new club in 2018 when a supporter in the Matthew Harding End, who has since been banned for life, allegedly used racially aggravated language.
Ahead of his home debut against Tottenham on Sunday, Chelsea’s marquee £47.5million signing says he was able to turn the attack into something positive.
“I think that conversation opened the door for me personally in the sense where it made me understand what my true purpose is other than football,” Sterling told reporters at Cobham.
“Of course, football is my main goal and talent but the other thing that gives me the most joy. And that’s helping people.
“So from that incident, I’ve moved away from the racial side of it and focusing on more helping and nurturing young black people.
“It wasn’t something that played on my mind at all [when making the move]. I can’t let an incident from individuals change my perception of the club.”
Former Liverpool striker and pundit Stan Collymore has called upon Sterling to meet the fan to make a statement in the fight against racism.
When asked whether he would do it, Sterling was open to the idea: “I have no hatred or malice towards the individual. That’s something that I could do right here, right now or tomorrow. That’s not an issue.
“I think my main focus is to move away from the racial kind of thing and focus more on nurturing and feeding the youth, like myself growing up, and giving them a map to what the world lies ahead and show them that they can manifest a lot of stuff if they just put the time in and look after themselves.”
Sterling’s transfer represents a return to west London where he grew up in the borough of Brent near Wembley Stadium.
Raheem Sterling is set for his home debut as a Chelsea player
/ Chelsea FC via Getty ImagesNow, he invests some of his career earnings back into London through his Raheem Sterling Foundation, focusing on education, employment and social mobility in young people.
The England international wants to focus on football having found a new home after Pep Guardiola increasingly left him out of his Manchester City last season.
“It was a big surprise. It was a massive surprise [to be left out], a change of events all of a sudden. It’s something I had to handle and that’s why I’m here,” he concluded.
“From playing against Chelsea already, I know what the football club stands for. Then, of course, seeing the finals the team has reached in the last few years and knowing that they are winning stuff and always challenging.
“I don’t think I need too much more than that to know what football club you are coming to and an owner that’s going to be involved and try to set the club the way so it can challenge on all fronts every single year.
“That’s the main reason.”
