Enzo Maresca has informed Raheem Sterling that he is not part of his plans after the winger was left out of Chelsea’s Premier League opener.
Sterling, 27, was absent from the Blues’ squad in their 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
Following this, the player’s representatives issued a statement seeking clarification on Sterling’s future.
Chelsea signed Sterling from City in the summer of 2022 for £47.5 million, a transfer that was initially seen as a significant acquisition.
However, it appears that Sterling is now deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
In his press conference on Wednesday, Maresca confirmed that Sterling, along with Ben Chilwell, is currently training away from the first team.
He said: “I spoke with Raheem before the City game, I said he will struggle to get minutes with us.
“With Chilly, I said he is a lovely guy but because of his position, he will struggle.”
The Italian added: “I am not saying Raheem is not a good player but I prefer different kinds of wingers.
“It’s simple.”
Chelsea have invested over £1 billion in the transfer market since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired the club in 2022.
Maresca, who took over from Mauricio Pochettino earlier this summer, now has a wealth of talent at his disposal.
Despite this, Sterling was not included in the squad for the weekend’s match, prompting the winger’s representatives to release a statement expressing their surprise at the decision.
The statement 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.”
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