I controversially left Liverpool to join Man City for one major reason: I didn’t regret it

These days, Raheem Sterling is trying to dethrone Manchester City as champions after being part of four Premier League victories at the Etihad.

His current boss, Mikel Arteta, spoke this week of his desire to give the winger more minutes since his loan move to Chelsea. Sterling has not played regularly for the Gunners, having struggled to make the impact he would have liked at Stamford Bridge following his departure from City.

Still 29, Sterling won every domestic trophy available during his glittering seven-year spell at the Etihad. But his arrival in Manchester in 2015 was mired in controversy as he looked to leave Liverpool.

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Much has been written about his intentions, his salary and his character. Under Pep Guardiola at City, these questions disappeared such were his performances. And despite much hesitation on his part, Sterling maintained that the only reason for his desire to leave Liverpool for City was the trophies.

“When I came to Liverpool I said to myself that if I haven’t won the Premier League by the time I’m 21, I need to look at my options and see what I do there,” he said.

“I set that up from a young age. And I came to City and won my first Premier League. It’s just good to know what I set out to do – what we have decided to do as a team – it’s going as planned.”

On his arrival, he added: “From the first moment I heard that City were interested in me (I wanted to join), purely because of the direction the football club was going. I’m really happy to being here. I think I made the right decision.

“As a footballer playing in the Premier League for such big clubs you will always have pressure, but you just have to face it and accept it calmly.

“I have my own personal goals – assist ambitions – and I hope I do very well for this football club and try to win trophies.”

The trophies have certainly arrived for a man who has now played for all of the current Premier League top four. But it was at City that he was at his peak.