Enzo Maresca left the ex-Manchester City star out of his first Premier League squad, and a parting of ways may now be best for all concerned
"There are times when you win every year and times when you don’t win trophies. This football club more than not has been winning trophies," Raheem Sterling said in an interview with Chelsea's official website on the eve of their 2024-25 Premier League opener against Manchester City. "That’s the standards of Chelsea Football Club. We as a group are really determined to get back to those winning ways, and getting that exciting feeling of challenging for stuff and winning stuff back for the fans. It’s a football club I am really dedicated to now, to try and win trophies and replicate some of the successes I have had in the past."
Sterling also said there is "no better thing to hear" than a manager emphasising the importance of getting the ball out to the wide men so they can "make the difference", which Enzo Maresca has done in his first couple of months at Chelsea. But the 29-year-old's excitement for the new season wouldn't last long.
When Maresca named his first 20-man matchday squad for the champions' visit to Stamford Bridge, Sterling was nowhere to be seen. Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku started in a front three while Noni Madueke, summer signing Pedro Neto and much-maligned £89 million ($115m) flop Mykhailo Mudryk made the bench.
Those selection decisions ultimately backfired, as City ran out 2-0 winners without every really needing to get out of second gear, but Sterling won't be in line for an immediate return. It doesn't matter how "dedicated" he is; Chelsea are a complete mess under the current Todd Boehly-led ownership regime, and he'd be wise to jump ship before the summer transfer window slams shut.
GettyNo divine right to play
Sterling's representatives immediately released a statement on the winger's behalf via the after his omission from the matchday squad, which read: "Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years. He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training, and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.
"He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity. As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation. Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season positively."
To make matters worse for Sterling, Maresca insisted it was purely a "technical" call, which suggests he is now sitting at the bottom of the attacking pecking order. But that doesn't excuse his reaction. The statement wasn't just ill-judged and poorly timed, it smacked of entitlement.
No player has a divine right to play, as former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher quickly pointed out in a damning social media post. He wrote: "This statement is ridiculous! As a camp………..! We look forward to gaining clarity…….!! No need for a statement, especially an hour before kick-off!! Just play better."
AdvertisementGetty ImagesBoehly's personal candy shop
Sterling is not used to this kind of situation, though. Indeed, Sunday was the first Premier League opener he has been left out of since 2012 – when he graduated from Liverpool's academy.
But there is no other club in world football with higher competition for places than Chelsea right now. Maresca has insisted there are only 30 players in his squad, but 42 are listed on the club website, including Neto and the 11 new arrivals in the current transfer window.
This is a circus of Boehly's creation. The LA Dodgers' co-owner fronted the Clearlake Capital group's purchase of Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in 2022, and quickly stamped his mark. Sterling was the glamour signing for the Blues that summer, as he left City after seven trophy-laden years in a £50m ($65m) deal, but there were eight other additions that brought Boehly's spending up to an eye-watering £228m ($296m). Two years on, the total investment in the squad has surpassed £1.1 billion.
Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League in 2022-23, and sixth last season. Sterling was actually one of their most consistent performers as signs of improvement were shown under Mauricio Pochettino, but Boehly and Co reset the clock again by sacking the Argentine in May.
There will be no continuity or real progress at Stamford Bridge if Boehly continues to run the club like his own personal candy shop. "I want all 30 players but there is no space for all of them so some have to leave," Maresca said when pressed directly on whether Sterling is in his plans, which leaves the winger with a choice; stay and gradually fade into complete anonymity, or push for a transfer to a more stable club that will allow him to get his career back on track.
Getty Images'Not giving it up'
Despite all the uncertainty on and off the pitch at Stamford Bridge, former Chelsea star Pat Nevin believes Sterling is ready to dig his heels in. "What this situation with Raheem Sterling has done is make him possibly cheaper to buy," Nevin told . "Does this mean he will earn less money? The top words of the statement were 'Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football club for the next three years'. That is code for 'I am owed that money and I'm not giving it up'. I think this has been clever by the player and his people."
In other words, Sterling is attempting to force Chelsea's hand. It makes no sense to keep paying his reported £325,000-per-week wages if he's not going to play regularly. Incidentally, that package makes him the joint-highest earner at the club alongside Romelu Lukaku, who hasn't played a single Premier League game for the Blues in the last two years.
Chelsea are still toiling in vain to offload Lukaku, and won't want to end up in the same boat with Sterling. Maresca described the England international as "one of our most important players" during Chelsea's pre-season campaign – a stance the club may now remind him of.
But there won't be a happy ending for Sterling in west London, even if he is granted minutes again. Chelsea are so far away from the trophies that Sterling craves, and there is a good chance they will still be floundering when his contract eventually expires in 2027.
GettyNeeds to get out of comfort zone
Sterling will turn 30 in December, but that doesn't mean he's over the hill. He is a four-time Premier League winner with 186 goal contributions from 379 appearances in the competition, and a place in the Hall of Fame beckons when he does hang up his boots.
As such, there is nothing left for Sterling to prove on these shores. He may not be mentally ready to make the jump, but a transfer abroad would be the best option at this stage of his career.
According to , Juventus have approached Chelsea over a possible deal for Sterling, even offering to send Federico Chiesa in the opposite direction. Sterling was also linked with clubs in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, but it's far too soon for him to join a retirement league.
It remains to be seen if Juventus can afford Sterling's wages, but that's the kind of move he should be looking for to enhance his legacy. Sterling is still an accomplished dribbler with plenty of pace and guile who guarantees goals and assists, and he boasts invaluable experience at the highest level for club and country.
Sterling could probably seal a move to another Premier League club, but he needs to get out of his comfort zone to rediscover the form that saw him named the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 2018-19. It would be a real shame if he wastes the prime years of his career at Chelsea, where he has never really been treated fairly by club officials or the fans – who booed him persistently last season.