Robin van Persie has defended Raheem Sterling after the winger faced sharp criticism following his debut for Feyenoord, as reported by Metro Sport.

Sterling, 31, came off the bench in Feyenoord’s 2-1 win over Telstar last weekend, making his first competitive appearance since May 2025.

The former Manchester City and Chelsea forward had not featured during the first half of the season after being frozen out and eventually leaving Chelsea by mutual consent.

Some sections of the Dutch media were unforgiving, with one outlet likening his display to “Bambi on ice”. Van Persie, however, insisted the criticism lacked perspective.

“If you have a little sense of context, where he comes from, what he has achieved in the past, and the fact he has not had any team training for months, then you look at it differently,” he said.

“I understand there are expectations when a top player arrives. But to judge him so harshly after half an hour, his first half hour in more than six months, shows a lack of understanding.”

Sterling’s last appearance had come during a loan spell at Arsenal, and he has spent recent months rebuilding his fitness.

Van Persie acknowledged that match sharpness will take time. “A large part of the reaction was positive,” he added.

“Some of it was typically blunt. If, after five or six weeks, you feel he is not delivering, then you can have that debate. But to form such strong opinions so quickly felt inappropriate.”

Sterling also received public backing from former England team-mate Jack Grealish, who criticised the tone of social media commentary and urged supporters to show respect.

Feyenoord travel to Twente on Sunday, with Van Persie’s side currently second in the Eredivisie after three successive wins. They trail leaders PSV Eindhoven by 14 points but remain firmly in the title conversation.

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