It has been reported that Liverpool hero Michael Owen has blasted Raheem Sterling and his advisors for their decision to speak about the contract negotiations publicly in an interview with the BBC.
The 20-year old England international has faced criticism from all corners due to the interview which aired prior to the crucial Premier League game against Arsenal which ended in a 4-1 defeat.
“We saw further evidence that Sterling isn’t a natural in front of the camera,” Owen said on social network Sportlobster.
“That’s not a huge issue in itself but it does beg an obvious question: Why on earth did his advisor consent to exposing his client to a situation that he doesn’t feel comfortable in while discussing arguably the hottest current topic in English football?
“Unless he was going to announce that he was signing a new contract imminently, he was on a hiding to nothing.
“Every Liverpool fan was hanging on his every word and if there were a few willing to sympathise with him a week ago, there won’t be many who do now.”
In the interview, the England international denied he was a ‘money-grabber’ for turning down a reported £100,000-a-week contract and revealed that the negotiations are now on hold until the end of the season.