Raheem Sterling has been dealt a significant blow as new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made it clear that the winger doesn’t fit into his plans. This revelation followed Sterling’s omission from Chelsea’s Premier League opener against his former club, Manchester City, where the Blues suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Sterling, 29, who joined Chelsea in a highly anticipated £47.5 million move from City in the summer of 2022, now finds himself on the fringes of the squad. After his exclusion from Sunday’s match, Sterling’s representatives released a statement, signaling their intent to seek clarity regarding his future at the club.
In a candid press conference on Wednesday, Maresca confirmed that Sterling, along with Ben Chilwell, has been training separately from the main squad. “I’m not saying Raheem is not a good player,” Maresca explained, “but I prefer different kinds of wingers. This is the reason why.”
Maresca detailed his conversation with Sterling, stating, “I spoke with Raheem one-on-one the day before the City game and explained the situation to him. I haven’t seen Raheem since the game.” The coach added, “Their (Sterling and Chilwell’s) situation is quite clear, and there are no updates at this time.”
Chelsea has undergone a massive overhaul since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over in 2022, splurging over £1 billion in the transfer market. With an abundance of talent at his disposal, Maresca seems to be steering the club in a new direction, leaving experienced players like Sterling out of the mix.
Following his exclusion from the weekend’s match, Sterling’s camp expressed their shock in a public statement, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the player’s future at Stamford Bridge.
