Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge has revealed the hurt he felt as he was labelled "arrogant" following his Manchester City exit.
Sturridge, 21, quit the Blues in July 2009 after coming through the Eastlands youth academy. Reports at the time stated the England youth striker's exorbitant wage demands due to an inflated ego had seen him move down south.
However, Sturridge has hit back at those claims and insists the slurs couldn't be further from the truth.
He said: "I had some negative things around me when I joined the club.
"It was very hard for me to handle because I did not have my family around me. It was a hard stage in my life, not only in my career, but in my life as well.
"Some people had the opinion that I was an arrogant guy and I didn't work for the team and that hurt me a lot.
"It hurt me because I didn't believe it. Never in my life have I been an arrogant guy and it was very hurtful to hear people say things like that about me because I know I am not that type of person.
"Obviously, you then go home sometimes and feel very, very upset and you don't know what to do. For me, when that type of stuff was going on, it was very hard for me to be alone. I just want to show everyone that I am not that type of guy.
"When people meet me they realize I am actually not that type of guy. I am just trying to get as far as I can in football. Hopefully, I can push those things aside and prove to people that I am not like that.
"It was hard me for because I am young. It was difficult moving from Manchester to London. I was away from my family for about four or five months when I first joined the club.
"I am used to having them around me. In the second half of the season, it was different because they were with me and raised my spirits.
"It was very difficult for me at the beginning to get used to life alone because I was not used to that. When I was here on my own, the players helped me a lot. They put their arms around me and told me to keep my mind on football and not worry about anything because my time would come.
"Now I feel I am a Chelsea player and part of everything. The team has been here has been together for a long time and it was very hard for me to become a part of things. The boys made me very welcome when I first joined the club, they showed me a lot of love.
"I was very happy they did that for me because sometimes it is hard when you join the club as a new player and you don't know anyone.
"But I believe I have become a better player and I hope I can play more often with these world class players.
"Carlo Ancelotti is the best manager I have worked with. He gives you huge confidence and has huge faith in me. Hopefully I will be able to repay him."
Sturridge, 21, quit the Blues in July 2009 after coming through the Eastlands youth academy. Reports at the time stated the England youth striker's exorbitant wage demands due to an inflated ego had seen him move down south.
However, Sturridge has hit back at those claims and insists the slurs couldn't be further from the truth.
He said: "I had some negative things around me when I joined the club.
"It was very hard for me to handle because I did not have my family around me. It was a hard stage in my life, not only in my career, but in my life as well.
"Some people had the opinion that I was an arrogant guy and I didn't work for the team and that hurt me a lot.
"It hurt me because I didn't believe it. Never in my life have I been an arrogant guy and it was very hurtful to hear people say things like that about me because I know I am not that type of person.
"Obviously, you then go home sometimes and feel very, very upset and you don't know what to do. For me, when that type of stuff was going on, it was very hard for me to be alone. I just want to show everyone that I am not that type of guy.
"When people meet me they realize I am actually not that type of guy. I am just trying to get as far as I can in football. Hopefully, I can push those things aside and prove to people that I am not like that.
"It was hard me for because I am young. It was difficult moving from Manchester to London. I was away from my family for about four or five months when I first joined the club.
"I am used to having them around me. In the second half of the season, it was different because they were with me and raised my spirits.
"It was very difficult for me at the beginning to get used to life alone because I was not used to that. When I was here on my own, the players helped me a lot. They put their arms around me and told me to keep my mind on football and not worry about anything because my time would come.
"Now I feel I am a Chelsea player and part of everything. The team has been here has been together for a long time and it was very hard for me to become a part of things. The boys made me very welcome when I first joined the club, they showed me a lot of love.
"I was very happy they did that for me because sometimes it is hard when you join the club as a new player and you don't know anyone.
"But I believe I have become a better player and I hope I can play more often with these world class players.
"Carlo Ancelotti is the best manager I have worked with. He gives you huge confidence and has huge faith in me. Hopefully I will be able to repay him."
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