Raheem Sterling reveals key reason why Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel signed him

Raheem Sterling has revealed the key reason why Thomas Tuchel spent £47.5million on bringing the England forward to Chelsea.

Sterling enjoyed seven glittering years in Manchester but felt it was time for him to pack his suitcase and seek a new challenge when the Chelsea opportunity came calling.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed more game time than anyone else under Pep Guardiola and scored 131 goals for the Citizens, second only to Sergio Aguero.

But in recent season he became a more peripheral figure, and has now looked for a new challenge in south-west London.

Working with Thomas Tuchel was clearly one of the key reasons that made him return to London to play for Chelsea.

And in his first Chelsea press conference at Cobham, Sterling revealed the key reason the German decided to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

“He said to me, my directness, threatening behind,” Sterling said.

And Tuchel told the England Euros hero that he saw him linking up with Chelsea’s flying wing-backs, Reece James and Ben Chilwell.

“Most importantly, how I attack the box, with the full-backs we have here, he wants to see a lot more,” Sterling added.

Sterling made his Chelsea debut over the weekend in the club’s 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park, but he will be introduced to the Chelsea fans on his home debut against Tottenham this Sunday.

Regarded by many as one of the best players in the Premier League, Chelsea fans feel they have a man who is entering his prime and the right profile to lead them into the new era under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership.

However it has not been easy moving from Manchester, Sterling explained.

“My time at City was a lot of memories and a lot of tough moments, but for a year and a bit I was in and out of the team,” he said.

“It taught me a lot about myself and it made me not value a lot of things and I tried to get things in order.

“But things happen for a lot of reasons and I kept with that mentality and it was difficult.

“My kids went to school there and my son now misses his friends, but again it’s those things in life that you have to make a decision for yourself and your family.”