Traditional Dutch club Feyenoord moved this week’s training to Belgium to allow Raheem Sterling to work with his new teammates, coach Robin van Persie confirmed.
Law in the Netherlands prevents the 31-year-old Brit from training with Feyenoord until he receives a work permit, a process that normally takes around a week.
and, to speed up its preparation, the club crossed the border to train at the center of the Belgian federation, in Tubize, on Monday and Tuesday (16th and 17th).
“One of the reasons is that Sterling can train with the group,” Van Persie told reporters, highlighting the importance of the striker adapting quickly.
Feyenoord wants Sterling to debut on Sunday
“We can also work on our team culture there. It is through Raheem and these processes that we will do this”, explained the coach.
Feyenoord plans to return to Rotterdam after another session on Wednesday (18) and hopes to have him seen in time to evaluate the debut against Telstar, on Sunday (22).
and signed a contract until the end of the season.
“My free agent status gave me the chance to calmly evaluate the next step in my career,” the player told the club’s official website.
Sterling explains choice and aims to debut in the Dutch
After conversations with CEO Dennis Te Kloese and Van Persie, he said he was convinced he had found the ideal place to be happy and useful to the squad.
He has already defended Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea throughout his career.
For the England national team, he scored 20 goals in 82 international matches.
Feyenoord is vice-leader and tries to maintain a reaction this season
Feyenoord occupies second place in the Dutch league, 14 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven.
In his first full season in charge, Van Persie faced pressure after six games without a win at the turn of the year.
Since then, the team reacted and won four of the next six matches, remaining firmly in the fight for the top positions.
