'Reluctant' Chelsea outcast subject of shock Bayern Munich enquiry on deadline day amid Napoli summer interest
Raheem Sterling is currently training on his own, however, according to a new report, he could have been playing Champions League football this week.
Raheem Sterling is in the sort of footballing limbo that only the Chelsea outcast can really get himself out of.
Still only 30-years old, the 80-times capped England winger has the sort of career that all but only the truly elite would gladly swap him for despite barely kicking a ball in the last few seasons.
Since moving to Stamford Bridge, the former Liverpool and Arsenal forward doesn’t have bad numbers with just under one goal contribution every two games, however, he is so far out of favour under Enzo Maresca that he is now training on his own.
Raheem Sterling could have signed for Champions League duo
Sterling’s first two seasons were ok if unspectacular, but it was the arrival of Maresca that saw a change of shape and system that the high earning star just hasn’t been able to adapt to. His reputation hasn’t been damaged beyond repair though with a report in The Telegraph claiming that he could still have been playing Champions League football, if he wanted to.
According to Sam Wallace, Sterling had plenty of elite level options to leave Chelsea and get back playing again:
“What might be going on? There is obviously first the barrier of his salary – about £300,000 per week. But still, Manchester United were interested in the summer of last year and got little encouragement from the player. Bayern Munich inquired on deadline day when they were in negotiations with Chelsea over Nicolas Jackson. Napoli were also interested.
“For reasons that are not clear, Sterling seemed reluctant to move overseas, or potentially even away from London. There has been interest from the Saudi Pro League, but that has not gone anywhere.”
To have the chance to move to Manchester United, Bayern Munich, the German champions or Napoli, the Italian champions, and decide to sit at home and train on his own, Sterling isn’t helping his cause in terms of gaining any sympathy from fans and pundits alike. It also doesn’t look like he has any interest in getting his place back in the England squad which is a surprise in a World Cup season.
What has Maresca said about Sterling?
After being omitted from Chelsea’s 25-man squad, Maresca explained, via The Athletic, just how far out of the picture Sterling is, which only serves to make the player’s decision making even more bizarre.
“They are Chelsea players because they have a contract with the club,” Maresca said recently.
“In this moment, they are still training apart. The idea is to continue in exactly the same way.
“Since we started the season, I didn't see one of them. I didn't see Renato [Veiga, who left for Villarreal], I didn't see Axel (Disasi), I didn’t see Raheem, because they train at a different time on a different pitch.
“I haven’t seen them since we started the season.”
With two years of his Chelsea contract left to run, if Sterling keeps knocking back potential moves he will be an even more wealthy man than he already is, however, his chances of continuing his career at the top end of football will amost certainly be over.