Liverpool star admits he didn’t like Raheem Sterling despite playing alongside him.

A Liverpool icon has admitted he was impressed by Raheem Sterling’s ability — but says he never really took to him, mainly because of how his Liverpool exit played out.Sterling’s time at Chelsea ended in disappointment, and his deal was cancelled at the end of January despite still having 18 months left. That made him a free agent, meaning he could sign for any club even outside the transfer window.In the end, the 31-year-old chose Feyenoord, with Robin van Persie explaining that Sterling wanted to “regain the joy” in his football. The move effectively closes the chapter on Sterling’s 14-year Premier League career.Despite everything he achieved in England, it’s clear not everyone from his Liverpool days is a fan.

Sterling joined Liverpool from QPR’s academy in February 2010 for an initial £450,000, with add-ons that could have taken the deal up to £2m. He made his senior debut in March 2012 against Wigan Athletic, becoming the club’s third-youngest player at just 17 years and 107 days.He quickly became a key figure in Liverpool’s first team during his three seasons, but former teammate Dirk Kuyt has admitted Sterling never won him over.Kuyt, now manager of FC Dordrecht in the Netherlands, was part of the Liverpool squad when Sterling broke through. Asked about Sterling’s move to the Dutch top flight, Kuyt praised his quality — but revealed his opinion has been shaped by Sterling’s controversial switch to Manchester City in 2015.Speaking to ESPN, Kuyt said Sterling was clearly talented, but added: “Ultimately, I didn’t like him that much because he quickly moved to a big rival.”

Sterling’s Liverpool departure became toxic in 2015 after he gave an unauthorised BBC interview confirming he had rejected a new contract. Tensions escalated further when his agent publicly stated the decision was financial and that Sterling wanted to leave.After Liverpool turned down two offers from City, Sterling completed his move in July 2015 — a transfer that completely destroyed his relationship with many Liverpool supporters.At City, Sterling went on to enjoy huge success, winning 10 major trophies, including four Premier League titles.