Chelsea's aggressive transfer activity this summer, with around £185 million spent on 11 new signings, has led to a bloated squad of over 40 senior players. This influx has undoubtedly put pressure on Maresca to make difficult selection choices.
"He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, with whom he has developed a strong working relationship," the statement read.
"Raheem remains fully committed to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, whom he holds in high regard.
Given his inclusion in the official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.
"We have always maintained positive dialogue with, and received assurances from, Chelsea FC regarding Raheem’s future at the club. We now look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.
"Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season on a positive note."
When questioned about the decision to omit Sterling, Maresca told Sky Sports: "The manager has to make some decisions. Sometimes players don't like it, that's normal. It was purely a technical decision, nothing more."
Sterling, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City for £50 million in July 2022, has made 81 appearances for the club. He was one of the first signings under the ownership of Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, who have since overseen a spending spree of around £1.5 billion, primarily targeting young players with high resale potential.
Popup Iframe Example
Related Tags
0 Comments
hi