Raheem Sterling's agent has further defended the England international's controversial move to Manchester City by claiming that his development was being stalled at former club Liverpool.

The 20-year-old joined the Citizens in the summer for a sum that could potentially rise to £49m, making him the most expensive English footballer ever.

Despite suggestions that Sterling could struggle to justify his hefty price tag at the Etihad, he has settled well into his new surroundings and already has seven goals to his name.

Three of those strikes came in the space of 45 minutes in a 5-1 win over Bournemouth last month, which representative Aidy Ward puts down to Manuel Pellegrini's tactical knowledge.

"At Liverpool, Raheem was asked to play as a full-back, just like Emre Can was asked to play as a central defender when he is a midfielder," The Mirror quotes him as saying. "That wasn't going to help him develop as a player. Moving to City was right for Raheem, even if Liverpool fans don't want to accept that.

"At City, he now has a licence to thrill. He has gone up a tier. Manuel Pellegrini has played him in a wide role with the freedom to drift inside and he has also played as a central striker. That's why he scored the first hat-trick of his professional career recently - all of the goals coming in the first half.

"He is playing with better players for a manager, who gives him the freedom to express himself, and he is improving as a player in a team that is at the top of the Premier League and in the Champions League. Raheem is in a good place."

Sterling has made 16 appearances for Man City in all competitions since joining, while also representing England on three occasions so far this term.