Raheem Sterling was hailed by Brendan Rodgers as one of the finest young players in Europe when he broke onto the scene at Liverpool.
That may have been so, but the winger wanted to be paid like one of the finest young players in Europe as a result - and so began a contract saga that would eventually lead to his Anfield exit. It was made worse by the fact Sterling joined one of Liverpool's direct rivals in Manchester City.
Now, seven years on, it is up to the Englishman to prove he can negotiate his departure without tarnishing his reputation as his City days potentially appear numbered. No longer the guaranteed starter he once was, Sterling could leave the Etihad this summer with Chelsea increasingly confident of signing him.
Sterling wants a resolution to his future within the next two weeks, claims the Telegraph. He has one year left on his deal in Manchester with a new offer put to him by the English champions. The 27-year-old wants to be at a club where he will be viewed as a key member as he knows the importance of his next move.
That has proved difficult at City such is the rotation employed by Pep Guardiola. Sterling was left out for crunch matches last term as frustration grew. That said, the player knows oh to well though just how much of a stain can be left from a messy exit.
He's previously opened up on his Liverpool departure and confessed that he has regrets with the way he went about his business.
"Sometimes you've got to know what you want,” Sterling told Sky Sports previously. “Your career is only short, you don't really know what's going to happen. At times, we make decisions and they might not be the right ones. Sometimes, it turns out for the better.
"The only thing I will say is the way it [Sterling's exit from Liverpool] went about was the thing I am more disappointed about. But other than that, it's been so far, so good. I said at the time, I felt like my ambitions and Liverpool's ambitions at the time weren't really aligned. The way it went about is the only disappointment I have from it.
"I did [have good times at Liverpool], at such a young age with a club that invested a lot in me. It had a big part in my teenage years so they've had a massive role in my life."
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There is no danger of City not matching his ambitions, but at this stage in his career much of Sterling's decision will revolve around his involvement. A wiser, older head is now on his shoulders, which is evident in the stellar way he's conducted himself around off pitch issues in recent years.
An amicable exit from Manchester is more than achievable. Guardiola has shown a willingness to let players leave the club if their minds are elsewhere. Midway through last season Ferran Torres was allowed to depart despite being a part of the first team. Prior to that Leroy Sane left the club.
Sterling need not down tools or turn contract negotiations nasty if he does want to secure a move elsewhere, potentially to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are in the market for new forward options as Romelu Lukaku prepares to leave and Sterling more than has an eye for goal, scoring 78 times in the last five league seasons.
