Rodgers was Liverpool boss when Raheem Sterling was sold to Manchester City.
New Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has been speaking about Raheem Sterling to The Telegraph, ahead of their match against Manchester City this week.
The two clubs meet in the Champions League, with Rodgers set to be reunited with the player he sold from Liverpool last summer.
The transfer was of course against Rodgers’ wishes, with the manager doing his utmost to keep Sterling at the club, only for the player to push through a move to Manchester City.
England’s Raheem Sterling in action
Sterling had a disappointing debut season for City and equally underwhelming Euro 2016, but has found his form this campaign under new boss Pep Guardiola.
The 21-year-old has scored four goals in six Premier League games, including a strike in the 3-1 win over Swansea City on Saturday.
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their third goal
Speaking to The Telegraph, Rodgers explained he is still on speaking terms with the winger, and shared the details of a message he sent him early on this season.
He said: “He gave his all for Liverpool and he got a £49 million move. Then he sort of drifted really and maybe lost his identity of what he was as a player.
“I’m so happy for him that he’s now back working and doing really well. I sent him a message at the start of this season as well about getting back – ‘Don’t forget who you are, don’t try to be something that you’re not. You’re a dynamic player. You better not perform against us!’”
With Celtic’s defence exposed by Barcelona in their last Champions League fixture, Sterling’s form suggests he is very much capable of piling on the pain.
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling in action
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