Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has lambasted England boss Gareth Southgate for failing to include Raheem Sterling in his latest squad lineup on the Vibe with Five Podcast.

Ferdinand, who played for England on 81 occasions, said that Sterling has been ‘the main bright spark at Chelsea’ and if he was in his position, he would ‘retire’ from international football.

What did Rio Ferdinand say on the podcast?

On the podcast, Ferdinand said: “If I was Sterling, I’d be very disappointed bearing in mind what he’s done for this England team when he’s been in or around it.

“If you’re going by the yard stick that Gareth’s using with the likes of [Harry] Maguire and [Kalvin] Phillips, why is it all right for them guys to get in and not him?

“Sterling’s probably been the main bright spark at Chelsea. It’s just nuts. I’d retire. If I’m someone like Ward-Prowse I’d just retire.

“I’d say, ‘listen, don’t pick me no more. There’s no point. It’s disrespectful what you’re doing.’ It is to people like him, especially Ward-Prowse who’s been putting up numbers for his team on a regular basis. What more does a man got to do [sic] to get a sniff?”

Should Gareth Southgate have called up Raheem Sterling to the England squad?

On the basis of last season, Sterling did little to justify his position in the England squad – however, it is odd to see him be left out, when his strong start to the 2023/24 campaign is taken into account.

So far, from Chelsea’s first four games of the Premier League season, Sterling has scored two goals, alongside a solitary assist. It should be mentioned that all of these goal contributions came in the same game, when the Blues defeated Luton Town by a score of 3-0.

Nevertheless, he has looked far more motivated and effective than he did last season. Flashes of the old Sterling have shone through – his propensity for running at players and taking them on seems to be slowly returning.

Generally, Sterling is also a good performer in an England shirt. So far, the former Liverpool and Manchester star has won 82 caps for the Three Lions, scoring 20 goals along the way. He was at his best at the Euro 2020 tournament, where he scored three goals over the course of the competition.