England manager Roy Hodgson believes the transfer saga involving Raheem Sterling which recently unfolded will help the player mature even more, while he believes it was unfortunate for the winger that Liverpool fans took an "unkind" approach to his desire to move.
Sterling, who moved from Liverpool to Manchester City for £49m earlier this month, is a regular in Hodgson’s national team set-up and the 67-year-old feels playing for a club with a massive following like Liverpool made things difficult for the youngster.
“He was playing for a club with a very strong fan base, not only in England but in other parts of the world", Hodgson was quoted as saying by the FA’s official website.
"Unfortunately for him, I suppose, the fans locally at Liverpool took unkindly to the fact that he made it clear he wanted to move."
However, Hodgson believes the 20-year-old will come out of the experience stronger as a player and a person which will help him mature and improve. And he dubbed the experience simply part of the game.
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"That is part and parcel of football really. I think if anything that will help him to mature and improve even more.
"I think for his age he is a remarkably strong and robust person, not just physically on the field but mentally”, he added.
Sterling has played 16 times for the national team since making his debut under Hodgson in November 2012. The youngster was part of the England squad for the 2014 World Cup and is tipped to be a key man at Euro 2016.
The 20-year-old became the Sky Blues’ first signing of the summer when he penned a five-year deal at Eastlands earlier this month.
