Liverpool hero Dirk Kuyt is now the manager of FC Dordrecht, and could come face-to-face with Raheem Sterling next season in the Eredivisie. The Dutchman has now revealed that he disliked the Englishman during his time at Anfield.
Dirk Kuyt Disliked Raheem Sterling Leaving Liverpool
Kuyt was a hero at Liverpool when Sterling came through the academy to make his debut for the first team as a teenager. The duo played just once together at the club, for a mere 7 minutes in the 2011/12 Premier League season, in the win over Chelsea.
The Dutchman left Anfield for Fenerbahçe in 2012, but has admitted he knew of Sterling’s talent during his time with the first team. He said they had trained together several times at the club, but he is not a fan of the Englishman.
He was talking to ESPN about the new Feyenoord signing when he said:
“That was quite a few years ago, he was 16 then. We trained together a few times and played a few matches. Ultimately, I didn’t like him that much because he quickly moved to a big rival. But Raheem Sterling, of course, is considered a fantastic player in English football with a tremendous record.”
Sterling made his first-team debut in 2012 and stayed at Anfield for three seasons. He was touted as one of the best players coming from the club’s academy and quickly became a regular in the top flight despite being a teenager.
However, he left the club in 2015 after Manchester City expressed interest in signing him, which angered Liverpool fans, including Kuyt. The winger went on to become a club legend at the Etihad, winning the Premier League four times, and the FA Cup once, while adding five League Cup medals to his collection.
His time at the club ended in 2022 with a move to Chelsea, where things did not go as planned. The Englishman was the first men’s team signing made by the new owners, BlueCo, after Thomas Tuchel asked for him, but the manager was sacked within weeks.
Stelring lost his spot under Enzo Maresca, was loaned to Arsenal, and was made to train on his own for the first half of the current season. He terminated his contract with the club last month and has now joined Feyenoord, where he is awaiting his work permit.
