Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling says he was left "fuming" and "raging" by his exit from Manchester City.
Sterling, 27, moved to Stamford Bridge this summer in a deal worth £50m, having won four Premier League titles during seven years at City.
He started just 23 league games last season, and believes his sacrifices were not being rewarded.
"Everyone wants to feel wanted, football is no different," Sterling told Sky Sports.
"When you play your heart out, sacrifice some of your kids' birthdays, and then get treated in a certain way, it's disappointing.
"At the time I was fuming, raging, but it's gone, it's in the past and I can only focus on the present, which is now, here at Chelsea, and the opportunity I've got here to go out and showcase my talents once again."
He says "misunderstandings, contracts running down" were some of the factors behind him leaving City.
"A lot of things came into play, a lot of reasons, but I wasn't complaining, I was ready to challenge and, as you can see, even with some of the performances I put in, you couldn't guarantee yourself a place so it just didn't make sense to fight a battle you can never win," he added.
Sterling, who scored 131 goals in 339 games for City, says his move to west London was a "blessing in disguise".
"If you are not happy playing your football you've got to look at other options to get that happiness back, and that's exactly what I have done," he added.
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Bubbling away this one, and I think there is more to come. Yet again, a could be legend leaves with a sour taste, and it seems like once again a lack of birthday cake is the main problem… “sacrifice some of your kids' birthdays"
I think he’s given a couple of interviews now where he’s spoken about ‘different factors’ contributing to him leaving, but ultimately it comes down to form. Now I really like Sterling, he had a tough start at City and I backed him. He went on to produce incredible numbers at the start of Peps reign. However his form dropped a couple of years ago now (around the time of that Joe Gomez eye poke?!) and never really showed any signs of returning to those levels in all that time.
I think the time was for both parties to move on, as one of our highest paid senior players, although working hard, he was not producing nearly enough on the pitch. It really is a shame because he has been one of the most important players of a very successful era under Pep, but I can only see more coming out and tarnishing his reputation at City from here now.
Sterling
posted on 22/8/22
comment by Mamba-Pranks is my daddy and I’m gash at FF - Viva Ten Cack (U1282)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 5 hours, 17 minutes ago
So we sold Sterling and used the money to buy Haaland.
Are City still inflating the market?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, obviously your books are cooked and you still paid another 50m or so to Haalands Dad and agent etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Phew 😮💨 at least it’s just 50. Thought it’s was 200
Money well spent. What did you pay for Spoonez
posted on 22/8/22
Who is Haaland agent Mamba, and how much did we pay them? 🤔
posted on 22/8/22
comment by Sky-blue (U22529)
posted 12 hours, 24 minutes ago
comment by Mamba-Pranks is my daddy and I’m gash at FF - Viva Ten Cack (U1282)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 5 hours, 17 minutes ago
So we sold Sterling and used the money to buy Haaland.
Are City still inflating the market?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, obviously your books are cooked and you still paid another 50m or so to Haalands Dad and agent etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Phew 😮💨 at least it’s just 50. Thought it’s was 200
Money well spent. What did you pay for Spoonez
----------------------------------------------------------------------
63m.
Far less than you paid for Haaland and you know it.
posted on 22/8/22
£85m for Spoonz, stop lying.
posted on 22/8/22
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 27 minutes ago
£85m for Spoonz, stop lying.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Stop making up sheet Doris.
posted on 22/8/22
comment by Mamba-Pranks is my daddy and I’m gash at... (U1282)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 27 minutes ago
£85m for Spoonz, stop lying.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Stop making up sheet Doris.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You started it Spamba.
posted on 22/8/22
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Mamba-Pranks is my daddy and I’m gash at... (U1282)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 27 minutes ago
£85m for Spoonz, stop lying.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Stop making up sheet Doris.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You started it Spamba.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What did I make up?
posted on 22/8/22
Your Haaland conspiracy theorys just sound desperate.
posted on 22/8/22
It's common knowledge that there was an incredibly large agent fee for Haaland. It's a bit silly to suggest otherwise.
posted on 22/8/22
"Club Pays Agents Fee"
Scandal.