Raheem Sterling's number 7 Chelsea jersey handed to Pedro Neto
Raheem Sterling's tenure at Chelsea appears to be nearing its conclusion, following a series of unfortunate events. The winger, who was acquired by the Blues for £50 million in 2022, is now expected to be leaving the club this summer. This speculation has been fueled by manager Enzo Maresca's decision to exclude Sterling from Chelsea training sessions. Notably, Maresca said Sterling isn't in his plans as he prefers different kind of wingers. Here are the latest details.
Sterling's jersey number given to new signing
Adding to Sterling's woes, Chelsea have reassigned his number seven jersey to recent recruit Pedro Neto. Neto, who initially wore the number 19 shirt in his debut match against Manchester City, will now sport the number seven jersey. This decision follows Sterling's exclusion from the Chelsea squad for their Premier League opener against Man City last weekend. Chelsea also excluded the player from their European squad.
Maresca hints at Sterling's future outside Chelsea
Maresca has suggested that Sterling's only chance for regular first-team play this season would be to leave Chelsea and sign with another club. Ahead of the Europa Conference League match against Servette, Maresca stated, "I spoke with Raheem before Manchester City, I said that he is going to struggle to get minutes with us." This statement further intensifies speculation about Sterling's imminent departure from the club.
Sterling was left out of Chelsea squad for City game
Sterling's camp had issued a statement after the winger was left out of Chelsea's squad against Manchester City. Sterling didn't feature in Chelsea's squad for their season opener, and in a statement released just before kick-off, his camp said they were seeking "further clarity" on his future at the club. When Maresca was asked about Sterling not being in the squad, he responded by saying it was a technical decision.
What next for Sterling?
Since joining the club from Man City two seasons ago, Sterling made 59 Premier League appearances, scoring 14 goals and making 7 assists. As per reports, Sterling wants to stay in the Premier League and a move to Saudi Arabia is not an option for him at the moment. Sterling, who wasn't in England's Euro 2024 squad, wants to play for his country again. Sterling is one of Chelsea's highest paid players and things look bleak for him.
