Sterling hits back at 'sicknote' suggestions

Raheem Sterling has denied he feigned illness prior to his transfer from Liverpool to Manchester City.

Sterling, 20, completed a £49 million move from Anfield to Premier League rivals City last week, ending months of speculation over his future.

In the lead up to the deal, the England international missed two Liverpool training sessions during the club’s preseason.

Sterling has insisted, though, that his absence was genuine, telling the Manchester Evening News: “Everyone thought I threw a sicknote in.

“I was in training on the Tuesday — in the changing room my stomach started hurting. I still went out and trained though.

“That day I went home, and I told the doc I was ill. My stomach was rumbling and I had diarrhoea.

“The doctor just said to me you can’t be around the other players. For the next 48 hours, I stayed at home.

“That’s what the club doctor told me to do. When that 48 hours was done I came back to training as normal.”

He added: “That’s exactly what happened. Everyone tries to make it seem bad but you’ve just got to take it on the chin.

“I didn’t really want to add more fuel to the fire so I didn’t comment on it, but thanks for the opportunity to say what really happened and set the record straight.”

At the weekend, Sterling admitted he regrets the manner in which he left Liverpool, but is confident he can deliver for City.

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