Liverpool fans were left furious at Raheem Sterling when he decided to move to Manchester City in 2015.
Back in the mid 2010s, the Reds were not exactly one of English football’s powerhouses and the quality of players they had then was significantly worse than those they have now.
However, much to the surprise of many, they came within touching distance of their first Premier League title in 2014, with Liverpool missing out to Manchester City by just two points.
Although they really should have won it that year, their team was nothing special, although the attack was good enough to carry the team as they had a front three of Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling.
The latter was just 20 at the time but showed that he was one of the best youngsters around, and definitely much better than the team he was in, with Liverpool finishing sixth during his last season at the club.
When Sterling departed for Manchester City in 2015, there was uproar and Liverpool fans certainly turned on him quickly, although the Englishman did once admit that he would have loved to stay but the Reds made one big mistake.
Liverpool offered Raheem Sterling a contract too late
Unfortunately for football fans, money is what makes the world go round, and for footballers, this is usually more true than ever.
Despite being offered a contract worth £100,000 a week in 2015, a simply staggering amount back then and considering his age, the winger turned it down and opted to leave for Man City instead.
This led to the 20-year-old being branded as ‘money-grabbing’ and fans simply could not believe he rejected it after what Liverpool had provided him, although Sterling once said he would have happily signed if he was offered it a year earlier.
“It’s not about the money at all. It’s never been about money. I talk about winning trophies throughout my career. That’s all I talk about,” Sterling said in an interview with the BBC back in 2015.
“I don’t talk about how many cars I’m going to drive, how many houses I’ve got. I just purely want to be the best I can be. I don’t want to be perceived as a money-grabbing 20-year-old.
“If, at that point in time [when Liverpool came close to winning the league in 2014], I was offered a contract, I most definitely would have signed straight away, probably for far less money than being said now. I just think the timing was a bit off.”
Liverpool fans have never forgiven Raheem Sterling
Although he has gone on to have a hugely successful career away from Anfield and won almost every trophy available to him, Liverpool fans are fiercely loyal and they have never forgotten what he did.
Whenever the Reds played Man City, or Chelsea and Arsenal for that matter, the Englishman would be loudly booed, something that appeared to work as his record against Liverpool is far from good.
Sterling has played 22 times against Liverpool and has won just five times, as well as only scoring three times.
He is certainly a player that broke many fans’ hearts, but all things happen for a reason, although it is strange to think how one mistake – Liverpool offering him the contract too late – has led to everything it has done.
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