England footballer Raheem Sterling is the talk of the town. Returning from Russia after the most successful World Cup since 1990, you could be mistaken to believe Raheem Sterling did nothing but score own goals, yet the media have vilified him as public enemy number one. For the AW18 issue of GQ Style, Raheem Sterling becomes a cover star and explains his experiences of racism, growing up among different cultures and that infamous tattoo. The future of English football is here to stay, so don’t believe the hype.
Raheem Sterling spoke candidly in the interview with Clive Martin:
On experiencing racism for the first time
"I was walking home from school and somebody called me over. I thought they wanted to speak to me... and they just called me the word. I didn't think there was any racism in this country, growing up where I did. I didn't come across anything like that until then."
On seeing different cultures growing up
"I was one of those kids on free school meals. It was amazing growing up with so many different cultures. If I meet a Somali person I speak of bit of Somali to them, because I learnt it at school from some of my good friends. It's good to have different cultures around you, you learn a lot. You learn what it's like for them growing up, what their parents are like... you get a feel for their environment. It’s a preparation for life, not just for a football team, it's a diverse country, we can learn a lot from different nationalities."
On being who he is
"Everyone who knows me knows exactly who I am and where my heart is. I don't live my life to please people. Once upon a time I would do certain things to change the perception of me... but in the end people will see the real me and accept the real me. What happens in between now and then is just what happens."
GQ Style Autumn/Winter 2018 is previewed exclusively at Conde Nast Worldwide News, 1-2 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JU, priced £6.99.
