August 21st 2024.
Raheem Sterling's second season at Chelsea was a breakout one for the young footballer. However, things have taken a turn for the worse as the drama surrounding his future at the club has escalated. The latest development being the stripping of his No.7 shirt, a decision that has left Sterling's position at the club in even more doubt.
It all started when Enzo Maresca, the club's new manager, made it clear to Sterling that he is not part of his plans. This was followed by the exclusion of the talented winger from the first-team training, along with other players like vice-captain Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah. With Sterling's agents seeking clarity on his future, Maresca's press conference on Wednesday provided just that.
The manager openly stated that while Sterling is undoubtedly a good player, he prefers a different style of wingers. This, in turn, means that the 26-year-old will struggle for playing time at Chelsea. It's not a comfortable situation for Sterling, but at least he now knows where he stands if he decides to stay.
However, just a few hours after Maresca's press conference, Chelsea made a bold move by taking away the coveted No.7 shirt from Sterling and giving it to their new signing, Pedro Neto. This decision has raised eyebrows, especially since Sterling is the highest-paid player at the club, earning a whopping £300,000 per week. But the club didn't stop there, as Chalobah also lost his No.14 shirt, which was given to another new signing, Joao Felix.
It's a clear message from Chelsea that they are moving on from Sterling and are building a new team with their recent signings. The question now is, will Sterling stay and fight for his place or will he seek a transfer away from Stamford Bridge? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, this saga is far from over. Stay tuned for more updates on this ongoing situation.
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