Brendan Rodgers has a theory on why Raheem Sterling left Liverpool
Raheem Sterling's Liverpool exit was never about money, but instead being the best version of himself, claimed ex-Reds boss Brendan Rodgers.
It was the Northern Irishman who gave Sterling his first real chance at Anfield and helped turn the teenage sensation into a regular who helped Liverpool push for the title. The winger was trusted early on and quick repaid that faith with quality performances.
By his second season in the first team, Sterling was part of a devastating attack that also featured Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. His influence grew and just a year later, contract talk turned into exit speculation as Sterling sought to get his true worth.
A contract stand off on Merseyside eventually gave Liverpool no option but to sell to a direct rival and Sterling moved to Manchester City in the summer of 2015 for around £50million. The England international also signed a lucrative deal, attracting notable criticism for seemingly chasing the money, but Rodgers has previously defended the player.
He told the Liverpool Echo in 2015: "For Raheem, it was never about money. If it was about money he could have stayed at Liverpool. It was about being the best he can be. In that moment in time, there was an opportunity to go to Manchester City where they had top-class players.
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"He's gone in there and developed and become a winner, which is clear to see now in his game. I look at Pep's team and it's not the same if he's not in it. What a testament that is to a young English player. What I loved about Raheem was that, for a young boy, he knew what he wanted to be.
"When I ask young players what is it that they want to achieve, he wanted to be one of the best players in the world, at that age. That was where he was unique, because sometimes the British players may not have that ambition. But that was all he wanted to be."
Man City boss Pep Guardiola got the best out of Raheem Sterling (Manchester City FC via Getty Images)Sterling's desire to win silverware was soon realised. In his first year he claimed the League Cup before Pep Guardiola arrived, which proved to be the catalyst that took the winger to the next level. He smashed the 20 goal mark for the first time in the 2017/18 season.
He would go on to better that in the following two years, bagging a career high 31 in 2019/20. His goals also resulted in huge amounts of silverware and across his seven years at the Etihad he won four Premier League titles, five League Cups and an FA Cup.
Sterling, now at Chelsea, stands by his decision to depart Liverpool. Upon reflection, his only regret was how the saga panned out, which painted him in a bad light.
The winger won more than 10 honours whilst at the Etihad (Getty Images)"Sometimes you've got to know what you want,” he previously told Sky Sports. “Your career is only short, you don't really know what's going to happen. At times, we make decisions and they might not be the right ones. Sometimes, it turns out for the better.
"The only thing I will say is the way it [Sterling's exit from Liverpool] went about was the thing I am more disappointed about. But other than that, it's been so far, so good. I said at the time, I felt like my ambitions and Liverpool's ambitions at the time weren't really aligned. The way it went about is the only disappointment I have from it."
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