Enzo Mareca axes Raheem Sterling from Chelsea first team squad as winger stripped of no.7 shirt

Sports/ Football (Kumasi, Ghana) Aug 21 (Futball Surgery Sports)- Enzo Maresca says Raheem Sterling is training away from Chelsea’s first team and is not in his plans as the head coach “prefers a different kind of winger”.

Chelsea are willing to listen to offers for Sterling just two years after he joined from Manchester City for £50m in 2022.

Maresca informed the 29-year-old last Friday that he was not in his plans this season and he was left out of the squad that lost to City last Sunday, as well as the team preparing to face Servette on Thursday.

Sterling’s No 7 shirt has also been given to summer signing Pedro Neto, who wore the No 19 shirt on his debut against Manchester City on Sunday.

Before the match against City, Sterling’s representatives released a statement asking for “clarity” over the winger’s future – a move that Jamie Carragher called “ridiculous”.

Sterling’s representatives held talks with Chelsea at the end of last season and all signs led him to believe he would be staying this season, but it now appears the England international could have played his final game for the club.

Ahead of their Conference League play-off first leg at home to Servette, Maresca said: “I’m not saying Raheem is not a good player but I prefer a different kind of winger.”

Sterling wants to stay in the Premier League.

Moving to Saudi Arabia is not an option for him at the moment as his family are settled in England and he wants to play for his country again.

Open and honest dialogue is now required to find him a new club in a permanent deal.

Unlike many other players, Sterling’s Chelsea contract does not have a clause which reduces his salary if the club are not in the Champions League.