Robin van Persie Defends Raheem Sterling Amid Harsh Feyenoord Debut Backlash in Netherlands

Former Dutch star Robin van Persie didn’t hold back when speaking out about the criticism aimed at Raheem Sterling following his first appearance for Feyenoord.

Sterling, who recently left Chelsea after nine months without playing, struggled to find his rhythm in a cameo during a 2-1 win over Telstar last Sunday.

Van Persie described the social media backlash as “inappropriate,” emphasizing the context of Sterling’s long period away from competitive football.

“If you consider where he comes from and what he has achieved in the past, plus the fact he hasn’t trained with a team for months, it’s unfair to judge him so harshly after just half an hour,” Van Persie said.

Sterling’s Rough Debut Sparks Social Media Fury

Sterling entered the match off the bench, marking his first minutes of football since his departure from Chelsea.

Fans and social media commentators quickly weighed in—some with harsh opinions.

One Instagram account, FootballPark, which boasts nearly 100,000 followers, described the winger as looking like “Bambi on Ice” and questioned whether it was time for Sterling to retire.

The post read: “Raheem Sterling’s debut for Feyenoord was not exactly a success story—it looked like a veritable disaster.

The English winger appears unmotivated and unable to adapt outside Pep Guardiola’s system. Is it time to hang the boots up once and for all?”

Van Persie Calls Out the Critics

Van Persie, who knows what it’s like to face scrutiny, defended Sterling vigorously.

He acknowledged that some criticism is natural in football, particularly in the Netherlands, but said the extreme negativity was out of line.

“A large part of the feedback was positive, but some of it was very blunt—Dutch blunt,” Van Persie explained.

“If you’ve given him five or six weeks and he’s still not delivering, that’s fair. But basing strong opinions on his first thirty minutes is completely inappropriate.”

Support From Sterling’s Former Teammates

Sterling also received public support from his former Manchester City teammate Jack Grealish.

Grealish criticized the Instagram post, calling it disrespectful.

“Guy hasn’t played or trained for so long. People like you are what’s wrong with the world.

Have some respect,” Grealish commented, highlighting the need for patience and understanding toward athletes returning from long layoffs.

Impact and Consequences

• Sterling faced widespread social media criticism almost immediately after his debut.
• Van Persie’s defense has sparked a debate about the fairness of judging athletes too quickly.
• Fellow footballers like Grealish are taking public stances in defense of colleagues returning from long absences.

What’s Next?

Sterling will have the chance to prove himself in upcoming Eredivisie matches for Feyenoord.

The next fixtures will be key for rebuilding confidence and showing fans his capabilities after the long layoff.

Van Persie and his coaching team are expected to provide support and gradually integrate Sterling into regular match play.

Summary

Raheem Sterling’s first minutes for Feyenoord were met with harsh criticism on social media, prompting former star Robin van Persie to defend him.

Despite struggling after a nine-month absence from competitive football, Sterling has the backing of teammates and his new club’s coaching staff.

Patience, context, and gradual reintegration are expected to be the key as he aims to reignite his career in the Netherlands.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Van Persie slammed social media critics for rushing to judge Sterling.
• Sterling struggled on his Feyenoord debut after nine months without competitive football.
• Some fans mocked him on Instagram, suggesting retirement.
• Jack Grealish publicly defended Sterling, calling critics disrespectful.
• Sterling will have upcoming matches to rebuild form and confidence.