Arsenal could have signed Raheem Sterling as a youth player, according to former academy director Liam Brady.

Sterling, now 19, emerged through the youth ranks at Queens Park Rangers before joining Liverpool for £600,000 in 2010.

Brady, who said it was "very difficult" to tell youngsters they would not have a future at Arsenal, expressed regret that he had allowed a number of successful players to slip away.

"I had to make decisions at under 12, 14, 16 and 18 whether a player was going to be offered further registration or contracts, and that's something I won't miss," Brady, who left Arsenal in the summer, said. "I've let kids go at 14 who are making a very good living in the game.

"In recent times, I think I could have got Raheem Sterling if I'd really gone for him, but I didn't go through with that one.