The rise of Raheem Sterling from teenage prodigy to international superstar has been one of the most captivating individual stories in the recent history of English football.
Despite the relentless obsession of large sections of the British media to undermine Sterling’s achievements, the 23-year-old has blossomed into one of the most devastating attackers in world football in the past two years.
When Pep Guardiola took the reigns at the Etihad Stadium he inherited a player who looked intimidated by his own ability. With the burden of a £49 million transfer fee weighing on his shoulders Sterling’s approach was timid and unsatisfactory for a player of his enormous potential, but that burden has been lifted under the Spaniard.
Within two years he has become one of the most highly regarded players in European football, but while Guardiola will sweep the plaudits for his incredibly effective man-management, Liverpool deserve credit for bringing him to national attention.
Liverpool’s recruitment team spotted a gem in 2010 residing within QPR’s youth set-up, and they offered the London-based club £630k to bring the wonderkid to Anfield. The deal was accepted and Sterling packed his bags for Merseyside, where he would later become arch villain of the Anfield faithful after departing the club for Man City. 
Alongside the likes of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge Sterling developed at an exponential rate which he couldn’t possibly have mirrored at QPR, so Liverpool deserve great credit for identifying a future star at such a young age.
The genius of the transfer decision was backed up by Brendan Rodgers’ willingness to hand him opportunities at just 17-years-of-age, with his first league start arriving against City just months after they had clinched their maiden Premier League title victory.
Liverpool supporters will undoubtedly continue to hurl abuse at Sterling and greet him to Anfield with a level of hatred which is bordering on obsessive. The Reds were able to earn a profit just shy of £50 million for a player who had no strong affiliation with the club; if he had risen through the youth ranks at Liverpool the supporters would have markedly legitimate grounds to unleash a tirade of abuse at Sterling on his annual visit to Anfield.
Sterling is now valued at a whopping £81 million by Transfermarkt, and the fact he has recently put pen to paper on a new deal suggests that figure is well short of the mark. A record of 37 goals and 24 assists from 107 Premier League appearances at Man City provides the statistical evidence to support his rapidly rising reputation, and under Guardiola that prolific return is destined to continue.
Sterling yet to peak. He is training with the game’s most prestigious modern day coach and a selection of the best players in the world on a daily basis, so his unstoppable rise to the top is bound to continue in the years to come.
Considering the extent of Sterling’s rise in recent years it’s fair to label Liverpool’s 2010 transfer decision as a stroke of genius which ultimately benefited the club, even if bitter supporters struggle to see that.
Liverpool and Man City fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
