#lmk if I missed anything important or mixed up any info

[ollieflopkins]

what exactly happened to sterling at liverpool why he was so adamant nothing would make him stay ?

THANK YOU ANON FOR ASKING THIS and apologies for the delay!

In my original post I detailed how upsetting it was for me as a newer Liverpool fan in 2015 to go through Sterling’s transfer to City and see all the media surrounding said transfer. I was upset because 1. He was a highly sought after young talent and I didn’t want him to leave in general, 2. He left to go to City of all clubs, and 3. Everything surrounding the transfer, at least to me at the time, came down to money. And yessss all footballers do care about their bag but for a 20 year old + his team who we raised to be talking about money in the press like he was? For me it was in bad taste. But I’ll try to keep it objective.

Raheem Sterling and why he wanted to leave Liverpool, plus some insight into 2010-2015 Liverpool, below the cut.

Why did Raheem Sterling want to leave Liverpool?

Wanted to win trophies. In Dec 2012 he signed a new long term contract with us under Brendan Rodgers and was enthusiastic about his future with us. However, Sterling’s entire career at Liverpool occurred pre-Klopp/pre-modern resurgence era so we weren’t ever really competing for leagues or silverware: we won a League Cup and like…almost won the prem once lolol… but that was it for Sterling’s entire career with us 2010-2015. City 2010-2015 were in Kun Aguero era and won the FA Cup, the League Cup, the prem twice, and came in second in the prem two other times. City easily were more successful and had more money to throw around at the time (still do 😌).

Wanted his bag. In 2014, he won Golden Boy, so journalists were touting him as the current best young talent in Europe at the time. He is also making pots/poty lists and such. Obviously his stock went up like crazy then. Liverpool were also being very flexible with him and providing rest/vacation time and such to prevent him from getting exhausted, etc etc aka they were glazing Sterling and clearly wanted him to stay badly. Early 2015 and Liverpool were offering Sterling an insane contract rumored to be £100k+ / week but Rodgers also said Liverpool aren’t going to rain money on him. Sterling notoriously dragged his feet on signing and fans began to boo him at matches bc the contract negotiations were being dragged out ostensibly bc of money. Sterling and his team at this point begin to give interviews talking about turning the contract down, saying at first it isn’t about money, then saying he’s not staying at the club for any amount of money…meanwhile Rodgers is pissed bc why is their player saying anything independently of the club to the BBC. Very messy. Then the bids start coming in from City and Sterling asks not to go on the summer tour with Liverpool and misses trainings, and former players and pundits are not having this. Lots of disappointment and feelings of abandonment. Ultimately Sterling became the most expensive English player ever at the time upon his transfer to City the summer of 2015. He went from making £35k/week on his current contract at Liverpool (Liverpool were offering him £100k/week to stay) to £150k/week on the 2015-2019 contract at City. Again, this is as a 20 year old winger coming off ~3 seasons of first team at Liverpool with rough generous estimate ~15 goal contributions in the prem for his time in the first team. no european experience bc Liverpool weren’t good at the time. bag chaser 🤷🏼‍♀️

I am not saying Sterling was not a good footballer - he was quick, a good dribbler, and could always pose a threat (still can on brilliant singular occasions). Like obviously he was an extreme talent bc Liverpool were willing to pay exorbitant amounts (for our club’s standards) to keep him. Sterling has always been inconsistent though. But he shone at City and fwiw they can keep him lol in my opinion he doesn’t have much of a legacy at Liverpool. That era was about SAS first and foremost - Sturridge and Suarez - with Sterling and Coutinho for support, but yes Sterling was important. He’s no legend but he matters.

I also recognize that I don’t think Sterling has been surrounded by the right people during his career. Many young players get preyed upon and misled and mismanaged. And really maybe Liverpool just didn’t matter to Sterling that much in the end. Which then…good riddance lol. He’ll always be a rat to me and if you feel differently that’s fine.

And since he’s come to chelsea and really began his tour of the big 6 clubs in earnest, he’s been a shadow of his former self. Landing at arsenal is strange and surely undesired by Arsenal fans but who knows what Arteta is cooking. Me personally, idcccccc