Stuart Pearce: 'Raheem Sterling not a problem player'

Former England Under-21s manager Stuart Pearce has insisted that Raheem Sterling is not a "problem player" despite his protracted transfer saga this summer.

Sterling and his agent Aidy Ward drew criticism for the way they handled business during the 20-year-old's record £49m move from Liverpool to Manchester City, which was finalised this afternoon.

However Pearce, a former City boss who also managed Sterling during his time in the international set-up, believes that the troublesome nature of the deal was down to "those around" Sterling, rather than the player himself.

"I wouldn't put Sterling in the category of a problem player," Pearce told talkSPORT.

"I don't think you would have a moment's problem with him in terms of him being a real pain and thinking you don't want to see his face when he walks through the training ground in the morning. I have certainly not found him that way inclined when I have worked with him.

"As a kid, he is a pleasant kid, maybe misguided by those around him but in the main he is not a problem."

Sterling's move to the Etihad makes him the most expensive English footballer of all time.