Brendan Rodgers has revealed he attempted to keep Raheem Sterling on £2,000 per week while at Liverpool - but only to ensure he remained as good as he could be.
The Manchester City winger played a big part in Rodgers' title tilt with the Reds, bursting on to the scene as a a 19-year-old.
Sterling was on just £2,000 per week before the club agreed to a pay rise
Rodgers has hinted money may have played a part in Sterling's inability to continue developing at the speed he did whilst under his tutelage.
"There is one common denominator when it comes to young players falling by the wayside - money," Rodgers told the Daily Express.
"It distorts reality, it changes people. I'm always cautious of that. I had Raheem Sterling playing for England and a regular in the Liverpool first team on £2000 per week.
"I couldn't do it any longer than about the November time because he was absolutely brilliant, so we had to get him on a different contract. But I stretched it out as long as I could."
Sterling scored his third of the season against Watford last weekend after a harsh red card stemmed his momentum.
The England star was sent off after celebrating with the City faithful at Bournemouth after grabbing his second goal in a week following an equaliser against Everton.