Raheem Sterling says he was “buzzing” during Liverpool‘s comeback against Barcelona this week despite having left the club in acrimonious fashion four years ago.

The Man City star spent three seasons at Liverpool, but enraged supporters of the club when leaving in 2015 after a year-long saga over contract talks amid a potential transfer that ultimately came to fruition when City paid £50million for the Englishman that summer.

Despite the nature of his departure, Sterling revealed he was happy for his former club after they overturned a 3-0 deficit by winning the second leg at home 4-0 to reach the Champions League final for the second straight season.

“I was really happy for Liverpool, I was buzzing,” Sterling said after receiving the Football Writers’ Association’s footballer of the year award in London on Thursday.

“People might not believe me but it’s true. Seeing some of the boys like [Jordan Henderson] Hendo and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] in the final makes me happy, I’m really happy for them.”

Liverpool and City are locked in a gripping battle for the Premier League title, with the outcome set to be decided this weekend as City hold a one-point lead over their rivals going into the final matchday of the season.