Raheem Sterling’s ‘clarity’ statement was ridiculous – but Chelsea winger would be wise to seek transfer abroad and escape Todd Boehly circus

Enzo Maresca excluded the former Manchester City star from his initial Premier League team, suggesting that a separation may now be the most beneficial course of action for everyone involved.

“There are periods of consistent victory and periods of not achieving any trophies.” “This football club has consistently been successful in winning trophies,” Raheem Sterling stated in an interview with Chelsea’s official website on the eve of their 2024-25 Premier League opener against Manchester City. “Those are the standards upheld by Chelsea Football Club.” As a collective, we are resolute in our pursuit to return to our previous winning streak, rekindling the exhilarating sensation of competing for and securing victories, ultimately bringing joy to our supporters. I am currently deeply committed to a football team with the goal of winning trophies and emulating the triumphs I have achieved previously.

Sterling expressed that there is nothing more gratifying than hearing a manager emphasise the significance of delivering the ball to the wide players, who can then have a decisive impact. Enzo Maresca has successfully executed this strategy during his initial months at Chelsea. However, the 29-year-old’s enthusiasm for the upcoming season was short-lived.

When Maresca announced his initial 20-player lineup for the champions’ upcoming meeting at Stamford Bridge, Sterling was conspicuously absent. Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Christopher Nkunku formed the attacking trio, while Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto (a new signing), and the heavily criticised £89 million ($115m) disappointment Mykhailo Mudryk were named as substitutes.

The selection decisions eventually had a negative outcome, as City won the match 2-0 without exerting much effort. However, Sterling will not be immediately included in the team again. Regardless of his level of dedication, Chelsea is in a state of disarray under the present ownership regime led by Todd Boehly. It would be good for him to leave before the summer transfer window closes.

There is no inherent entitlement to participate in this activity.
Following Raheem Sterling’s exclusion from the matchday squad, his representatives promptly issued a statement through the Daily Mail. The statement clarified that Sterling is currently under contract with Chelsea Football Club for the next three years. He arrived back in England ahead of schedule by two weeks in order to engage in personal training. He has experienced a favourable pre-season period under the guidance of the new coach, with whom he has established a productive professional rapport.

“He remains dedicated to performing at the utmost level for Chelsea FC and highly values the fans. Considering his appearance in the club’s official pre-match material this week, we anticipated Raheem’s involvement in this weekend’s match to some extent.” Our team has always engaged in constructive conversations with Chelsea FC over Raheem’s future at the club. Therefore, we eagerly anticipate receiving clear information about the current situation. Until that time, we will persist in endorsing Raheem’s aspiration to commence the upcoming season with a positive mindset.

Compounding Sterling’s predicament, Maresca adamantly characterised the decision as solely based on technical considerations, implying that Sterling now occupies the lowest position in the hierarchy of offensive players. However, his reaction cannot be justified. The statement exhibited not just poor judgement and bad timing, but also displayed a sense of entitlement.

Former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher promptly highlighted in a scathing social media post that no player had an inherent entitlement to play. He expressed his opinion by stating, “This statement is absurd!” As an encampment………..! We eagerly anticipate obtaining a clear understanding. There is no necessity for a statement, particularly one made just one hour before the start of the event. Simply improve your gameplay.

Boehly’s private confectionery store
Sterling is unaccustomed to this particular type of circumstance. Without a doubt, Sunday marked the first time since 2012 that he was excluded from the Premier League opening, coinciding with his graduation from Liverpool’s academy.

Currently, there is no other football club in the world that has a greater level of competitiveness for positions than Chelsea. Maresca has maintained that his roster consists of only 30 players, nevertheless, the club website lists a total of 42 players, which includes Neto and the 11 recent acquisitions during the current transfer window.

This is a circus created by Boehly. In 2022, the co-owner of the LA Dodgers took the lead in the Clearlake Capital group’s acquisition of Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, and promptly made his influence felt. Sterling was the marquee acquisition for the Blues during that summer, departing City after a successful seven-year tenure with numerous trophies, in a £50m ($65m) agreement. However, there were eight further signings that contributed to Boehly’s total expenditure of a staggering £228m ($296m). After a span of two years, the cumulative investment on the team has exceeded £1.1 billion.

In the 2022-23 season, Chelsea’s position in the Premier League was 12th, while in the previous season they finished sixth. Sterling consistently performed well under Mauricio Pochettino, demonstrating signs of development. However, Boehly and his associates undid this progress by dismissing the Argentine in May.

If Boehly continues to manage the club in a manner that resembles his own personal candy shop, there will be no consistency or genuine advancement at Stamford Bridge. “I desire to have all 30 players, but due to limited space, some must depart,” Maresca stated when specifically asked about Sterling’s inclusion in his plans. This leaves the winger with a decision to make: either remain and slowly become completely unknown, or actively seek a transfer to a more secure club that will enable him to revive his career.”

‘Refusing to surrender’
Amidst the various uncertainties both on and off the football pitch at Stamford Bridge, Pat Nevin, a former Chelsea player, is of the opinion that Sterling is prepared to firmly establish himself. “The situation with Raheem Sterling has potentially reduced his price for purchase,” Nevin stated on BBC Radio Five Live. “Does this imply a reduction in his earnings?” The key terms in the release were ‘Raheem Sterling is under contract with Chelsea Football Club for the upcoming three years’. This statement implies that the code signifies the user’s claim to the money they are owed and their refusal to relinquish it. I believe the athlete and his associates have displayed astuteness in their actions.

Put simply, Sterling is trying to compel Chelsea to take action. Continuing to pay his alleged weekly earnings of £325,000 is illogical if he is not going to play on a consistent basis. By the way, the deal puts him at the same level of earning as Romelu Lukaku, who has not participated in any Premier League matches for the club in the past two years.

Chelsea are now struggling to find a buyer for Lukaku, and they want to avoid facing a similar situation with Sterling. Maresca referred to the England international as “one of our most crucial players” during Chelsea’s pre-season campaign – a viewpoint that the club may now bring to his attention.

However, Sterling will not experience a positive outcome in west London, even if he is given the opportunity to play again. Chelsea is currently distant from the trophies that Sterling desires, and it is highly likely that they will continue to struggle until his contract expires in 2027.

Raheem Sterling is a professional football player.Getty should strive to break off from their comfort zone.
Sterling will reach the age of 30 in December, but, this does not imply that he is past his prime. He has won the Premier League four times and has made 186 goal contributions in 379 games in the league. When he retires, he is certain to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Therefore, Sterling has already demonstrated everything he needs to on this land. Although he may lack the necessary mental preparedness, a transfer to a foreign country would be the most advantageous choice for his career at this point.

Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Juventus has initiated contact with Chelsea on a potential transfer involving Sterling, and has even proposed a player exchange by providing Federico Chiesa in return. Sterling was already associated with clubs in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, however, it is premature for him to join a league primarily composed of retired players.

It is uncertain whether Juventus can financially support Sterling’s salary, but that is the type of transfer he should pursue in order to elevate his reputation. Sterling remains a highly skilled player in terms of dribbling, speed, and cleverness, consistently delivering both goals and assists. Additionally, he possesses vital expertise from competing at the highest levels for both his club and national team.

Sterling has the potential to secure a transfer to another Premier League team, but in order to regain the level of performance that earned him the title of Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 2018-19, he must step out of his familiar environment. It would be regrettable if he squanders the most productive years of his professional life at Chelsea, where he has consistently faced unfair treatment from club authorities and fans, who continuously expressed their disapproval by booing him last season.

Raheem Sterling is a professional football player. 2022 World Cup in EnglandGetty The possibility of Sterling being selected to play for England again will depend on whether he decides to stay with his current club or move to a different one. Gareth Southgate omitted the Chelsea attacker from his Euro 2024 squad, resulting in the Three Lions advancing to a second consecutive final. However, they suffered a devastating loss to Spain.

“Naturally, I have a strong affection for representing England on the pitch.” “It is one of the most exquisite sensations one can ever experience,” Sterling expressed to The Athletic earlier this month. “Witnessing the presence of the young males out there filled me with delight.” Frankly speaking, I exclusively watched the England matches. I have a strong affection for participating in matches with the national football team of England. I am eagerly anticipating rejoining the England national team, without a doubt.

Sterling, who has been absent from international matches since the 2022 World Cup, has found renewed optimism following Southgate’s resignation. However, he has accumulated an impressive total of 82 appearances so far, 12 of which were obtained in big competitions. Unfortunate circumstances have been a significant factor in his exclusion from the national squad.

“Football is characterised by varying durations, during which there have been instances of numerous injuries and subsequent returns to play.” “It was a distinct phase of my life,” Sterling remarked. At Chelsea, he will never achieve a harmonious equilibrium due to his lack of control over his own fate.

Despite Sterling’s potential return to the team, how can he guarantee that the Blues won’t simply spend a significant amount of money on several new forwards in January? Recognition for England will only be achieved by consistent performance, a goal that is difficult to attain given the turbulent atmosphere he is now confined to at Stamford Bridge.

What is the subsequent step?
Sterling is justified in feeling upset. Indeed, he proved to be one of the most impressive players for Chelsea during their pre-season preparations, as he participated in all five of their friendly matches while on their tour in the United States.

However, Boehly is prioritising the cultivation of young players who can be subsequently sold for substantial profits. Sterling is at risk of being affected by that method, maybe facing a fate similar to Lukaku, who has been forgotten, or being relegated to the role of an unattractive substitute player, like Conor Gallagher and Ben Chilwell.

Cole Palmer’s great debut season with the Blues ensures that he will not be replaced on the right wing. Meanwhile, Neto and Nkunku are set to compete for the primary position on the opposite side. If Maresca were selecting only based on quality, Sterling would be the next candidate. However, this option is far from being an appealing best-case scenario.

The Italian manager has expressed his determination to “elucidate” Sterling’s future this week, as Chelsea prepares for the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off against Servette on Thursday, followed by a challenging away match against Wolves in the Premier League three days later. It would be most advantageous for everyone involved if Maresca were to publicly declare that Chelsea is willing to trade Sterling before to the August 30th transfer deadline.

One of the most exceptional players in the history of the Premier League should explore other opportunities before it becomes too late.