England international Raheem Sterling revealed that he has taken youngster Jadon Sancho under his wing and will be a guiding hand ahead of a challenging career as a professional.
The Manchester City winger has been at the receiving end of racist chants and unwarranted media attention.
Sterling, 24, explained that he will try to help Sancho overcome the negativity that could hinder a footballer’s development at a young age.
“Even when I was getting a lot of negative stuff, I was never going to sit there and be someone I’m not,” Sterling told the Daily Mail.
“I talk how I talk. I’d like people to accept me for who I am and they do now. I’m really grateful.
“If there is anything that I feel could put Jadon in a bad light, I make sure I pull him up on it. He’s a good kid. He’s doing a lot more off the field than I was at that age in terms of his preparation work.
“I’m quite close with [teenage midfielder] Ian Poveda at City. It’s a similar story: from London, came up north. He’s always sat next to me on the coach. He’s a bit annoying at times, I tell him that every day!
“He’s my little friend, I try to give him advice. I let him have a feel for things himself but if I do see something I’ll go over.”
