Raheem Sterling Seeks Clarification Over Future After Squad Omission in Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League Defeat to Manchester City
The 29-year-old, who participated in all six matches of Chelsea’s preseason tour in the United States, was surprisingly left out of the squad for Enzo Maresca’s first competitive match at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca described the decision as purely technical, despite previously acknowledging Sterling as an important player and part of his plans, even amidst transfer speculation.
Following the match, Maresca reiterated that due to the large squad size, some players would need to leave.
“I don’t know,” Maresca said. “It was a technical decision, and we will seek to clarify the situation soon, but it is nothing more than that. We want to utilize all Chelsea players, but with a squad of 30, some must leave.”
Sources indicate Juventus is among the clubs interested in Sterling.
Sterling’s camp, approached by ESPN before the match, stated: “Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea for the next three years. He returned to England early for individual training and had a positive preseason with the new coach. He is committed to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea and the fans. Given his inclusion in pre-match material, we expected him to play this weekend. We look forward to clarity on the situation and continue to support Raheem’s positive start to the season.”
Sterling joined Chelsea from Manchester City in July 2022 for £47.5 million ($61.5m) and has made 81 appearances, scoring 19 goals. Meanwhile, Chelsea is in talks with Atlético Madrid over signing forward João Félix, potentially leading to Conor Gallagher’s move to the LaLiga club in a separate £34m deal.
