A LOOK BACK: Liverpool had to contend with a key star refusing to go on a pre-season tour before forcing a transfer
Daniel Sturridge (R) of Liverpool is congratulated by teammates Luis Suarez (C) and Raheem Sterling (L) after scoring his team's third goal as dejected Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard looks on
Raheem Sterling enjoyed three formative years at Liverpool(Image: Getty)
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Andoni Iraola will be grateful for the drama-less pre-season he's had with Liverpool this summer. The same couldn't be said for ex-Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who had to contend with Raheem Sterling's refusal to go on the club's pre-season tour in July 2015.
The former England star was a top target for Manchester City and in order to push through a move to the Citizens, a then-20-year-old Sterling told Rodgers that he didn't want to go on the tour to the Far East and Australia.
Sterling doubled down on his desire to depart Merseyside by calling in sick to miss two days of pre-season training. A breakdown in relations between Sterling and Liverpool occurred in the 2014/15 campaign that resulted in the forward rejecting the club's offer of a new £100,000-a-week contract.
The summer began with the Reds swiftly turning down two bids from City. Sterling eventually got his wish as he secured a £49m move to the Etihad Stadium later that summer.
He ended up travelling with City to their pre-season tour of Australia and admitted he regretted the manner of his departure from Liverpool. He said at the time: "I was a bit disappointed how I left.
"That was the main problem I've had with the situation - how I've left it with Liverpool. I'm good with everyone at the football club, the manager, the players and I wish them well for the new season.
"But it was really disappointing how it did finish off." However, Sterling insisted the move was the right decision for his career. He explained: "From the first moment I heard City were interested in me [I wanted to join], purely because of the direction the football club is going in.
Pep Guardiola gives instructions to Raheem Sterling of Manchester City before they are substituted on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on May 22, 2022 in Manchester, England.
The 31-year-old played a pivotal role in City's dominance under Pep Guardiola(Image: 2022 Manchester City FC)
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"I've met all my team-mates now and it's been a really good few days, they've made me feel welcome and I'm really happy to be here. I think I made the right decision." The 31-year-old ended up enjoying a stellar seven-year career in Manchester, winning four Premier League titles, five League Cups and one FA Cup.
Sterling ended his City career with 131 goals in 339 games and secured his legacy as one of the greatest players in the club's history. He left for Chelsea in 2022 in a £50m deal and scored 19 goals in 81 games before joining Arsenal on loan in the 2024/25 campaign.
He scored just one goal in 28 games before returning to Chelsea and mutually agreed with the club to terminate his contract. He then signed for Feyenoord in February earlier this year until the end of the season, but played in just eight games while going without a goal. Currently without a club, his future remains uncertain.