Winger feels he needed to leave Anfield
Raheem Sterling has said that he needed to leave Liverpool in order to play with top players and develop his game
Sterling left Anfield for the Etihad in summer 2015, for £49million, making him one of the most expensive teenagers of all time.
In the 2014/15 season he and the Liverpool team had struggled to make as much of an impact as the 2013/14 season, and eventually his agent helped him push through a move to the Citizens.
But an interview in the latest issue of FourFourTwo magazine, Sterling claimed he felt he could only reach his potential if he was playing with the calibre of player at Manchester City.
“It was just about the players that were here,” he said.
“I could name 10 or 11 who have played at the highest level – people like Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Toure.
“For me to develop my game I’ve got to be playing with the best and that’s why I came here.”
Sterling first entered the Liverpool team in the same year Brendan Rodgers arrived, and ended up nailing down a first team place under the Irish manager.
However, the winger’s thirst to win trophies in his career meant he had no hesitation to leave Anfield once Man City came in with an offer. And he’s off to a decent start with his new medal collection, beating his old club at Wembley last season on penalties to win the League Cup.
The England international made a slow start to life at Manchester City, but has been reborn under new boss Pep Guardiola, bagging 5 goals so far this season. He puts the early form down to getting to know his new surroundings.
“When I was younger, I could always see this club growing and achieving great things,” he said.
“When I found out that they were interested in signing me, there were no second thoughts.
“I want to be fighting for trophies for the next 10 years, and there’s no better place to do that than here.”
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
