Raheem Sterling and the truth behind his move from Liverpool to Manchester City

• Raheem Sterling felt he would stay before Brendan Rodgers sparked a seismic shift in proceedings in February
• Sterling viewed Rodgers' comments as a ploy to paint him as the bad-boy
• Forward is adamant he would have travelled on Reds' pre-season tour
• Reaction from Liverpool fans to him at Stoke was the final nail in the coffin
• Europe's elite were making discreet overtures and were willing to pay double what Liverpool were offering 

By Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail

Published: 17:30 EST, 20 November 2015 | Updated: 20:55 EST, 20 November 2015

It's the morning of July 12, 2015, and Raheem Sterling's in his Range Rover driving to Liverpool's training ground.

His phone rings. 'Morning gaffer,' Sterling replies as he takes the call. 'Just on the way into training,' the youngster continues.

'Okay, come into training but you're not coming on tour; we've accepted a bid,' Brendan Rodgers informed Sterling - who faces Liverpool for the first time this weekend following his summer departure. It's a moment he'll always remember.

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling during training at City Football Academy on Thursday

Sterling chats to manager Manuel Pellegrini during practice ahead of City's match with Liverpool

Having missed two days of training that week, the hype over whether Sterling would board the plane for Liverpool's tour of the Far East was at fever pitch.

Liverpool sent a doctor to his Merseyside home to check on Sterling after he called in sick ahead of training on July 8. The club medic advised him to miss the next day, too.

His critics viewed the absence as a ploy to force through his Liverpool exit as the club stood firm on their £50million valuation.

To set the record straight; Sterling is adamant he WOULD have travelled. But he was on his way to Manchester City.

It was poignant Rodgers broke the news to him. The Northern Irishman has played a key role in Sterling's emergence as one of Europe's brightest talents.

He also, though, played a pivotal role in Sterling's acrimonious exit.

Sterling felt he would stay before Brendan Rodgers sparked a shift in proceedings in February

The forward believed he would stay at Liverpool before Rodgers sparked a seismic shift in proceedings on February 9, 2015.

'He has been offered a wonderful deal, an incredible deal for a young player,' said Rodgers during his pre-Tottenham press conference.

Fourteen words that proved the beginning of the end for Sterling's Liverpool career.

Sterling and his team were bemused, viewing it as a ploy to railroad the youngster into signing, a ploy to paint Sterling as the bad-boy.

At the time, he was also annoyed by talk he wouldn't play regularly if he were to leave Anfield.

Rodgers' comments merely fuelled his desire to prove his doubters wrong.

Sterling said he would have travelled on Liverpool's pre-season tour, but he was on his way to City

More stories emerged; first it was he would sign by the end of the week, then by the end of the month.

That was never the case - but the information was coming from somewhere. It certainly wasn't coming for Sterling's camp.

The furious reaction from Liverpool fans towards Sterling during the final day humiliation at Stoke, however, was the final nail in the coffin.

Rodgers had succeeded in painting Sterling as the villain of this piece.

But that's not to say the pair have fallen out. Far from it; despite suggestions to the contrary, Sterling and Rodgers are still on speaking terms.

Sterling isn't one to hold a grudge; even though those around him may not be quite so forgiving.

For example; being singled out by Rodgers in that now infamous clip on TV documentary Being: Liverpool, where the then-Liverpool manager accuses the youngster of back-chat, irked Sterling. But he soon forgot about it.

Likewise, the constant criticism from ex-Liverpool players, Jason McAteer, John Aldridge and Mark Lawrenson among them, hurt too. But ask him now - he's forgiven and forgotten.

In retrospect, Sterling's unsavoury contract wrangle could have been handled differently. Both parties, privately, acknowledge that.

In 20/20 hindsight; Rodgers initiating contract talks towards the end of 2013-14 season would have nipped the entire situation in the bud.

For what it's worth, Sterling would have signed.

But in Liverpool's defence, Sterling still had three years to run on his £25,000-per-week deal. With Liverpool going for the title it wasn't a priority.

Liverpool supporters vent their anger towards Sterling from the away end at Stoke last year 

Likewise, a new contract wasn't on the agenda for Sterling either. He was facing far more pressing issues: the title race and cementing his place England's World Cup squad.

By the end of the summer, however, the landscape had evolved. Sterling's profile was burgeoning, emerging as one of few positives from Brazil.

Indeed, rival clubs were taking notice. But Sterling remained happy and settled on Merseyside, he had Champions League football to look forward to.

However, it quickly became apparent that without Luis Suarez, who left for Barcelona, Liverpool were fading.

Sterling was no longer a supporting act. At 19, he was the main attraction, carrying much of the weight of Liverpool's expectation on his shoulders.

Three goals in the opening six games of the season offered proof that Sterling was comfortable with the mantle - yet he was still left waiting for a new contract.

Rodgers succeeded in painting Sterling as the villain of this piece but they are are still on speaking terms

The first set of discussions took place at the end of November, ending in Sterling rejecting a five-year contract worth £85,000 per week.

One of the intricacies of talks was the option of a release clause. Sterling's camp believed it would suit both parties. Liverpool disagreed.

But at least it was a start; dialogue between agent Aidy Ward and Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre remained amicable throughout.

'I became the bad guy, that's how I was portrayed,' Ward told Sportsmail last month.

'There is no issue with the fans there, they don't know the full story, and there are lots of good people at Liverpool.'

Despite rebuffing the offer, Sterling's intention to remain at Anfield was stronger than the opposite.

Slowly, though, Liverpool were losing control. Sterling was a wanted man and Europe's elite were making discreet overtures.

It quickly became apparent that without Luis Suarez, who left for Barcelona, Liverpool were fading

Furthermore, they were willing to pay double what Liverpool were offering. And, as news filtered out about the contract rejection, Sterling noticed a change.

His golden-boy tag was gradually fading; his detractors began taking shots at him, accusing the youngster of chasing a pay day.

Sterling felt gagged, unable to defend himself in the face of huge criticism.

His angst prompted that BBC interview where he explained his reasons behind rejecting the contract and why he wanted to delay further talks until the summer.

He didn't have the club's permission to talk - but, at the time Sterling, believed he had no other option. He wanted to respond to those money-grabber jibes.

Sterling would regularly be reminded by respected figures within the game about the importance of Champions League football. There looked little chance of that at Liverpool.

Yet even in April, Sterling - at least in his mind - felt the situation could be resolved and he'd sign.

Europe's elite were making discreet overtures and were willing to pay double what Liverpool were offering

But as he sat on the bench at the Britannia Stadium on the final day of last season; getting barracked from his own fans, he knew there was no way back.

The next step was to determine his destination; Manchester City, Manchester United, or Chelsea?

Sterling knew Liverpool would never allow a move to Old Trafford, leaving him with two options. We know the rest.

Liverpool, having rejected two previous offers, accepted a third City bid of £49million. Then Rodgers made that phone call.

Twenty-nine days later Sterling made his debut in the season-opener against West Bromwich.

In the 63rd minute Manuel Pellegrini replaces Wilfried Bony with Sergio Aguero.

'Bringing on Aguero as a sub? Wow. I'm definitely in the right place,' Sterling told a friend immediate after the game.

Sterling's angst prompted the BBC interview where he explained his reasons behind rejecting the deal

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