Why Raheem Sterling has been left out of the Chelsea squad for Manchester City game

Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling is seeking clarity over his future at the club after being left out of the squad for the Premier League opener against his former side, Manchester City. The experienced forward's absence was noted when Chelsea's team news was announced for the game.

Sterling had featured in all six pre-season games and participated in training all week, but he found out last night that he would not be involved in today's match, much to the surprise of many at the club. The Daily Mail also reported that Sterling's representatives expressed surprise at his omission, adding that the player will be seeking discussions about his role moving forward.

A statement from the player's camp 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, with whom he has developed a good working relationship. He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, whom he holds in high regard. Given his inclusion in the 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 regarding 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."

Why He’s Been Left Out

There are several possible reasons for Sterling’s absence, including the fact that the club recently signed Pedro Neto, who can play on both wings. If an offer were made for Sterling, Chelsea might consider it to recoup some money.

Additionally, Sterling is one of the club’s highest earners, and in recent seasons, Chelsea has made significant efforts to reduce their wage bill. When the new owners took over, Chelsea had one of the top five highest wage bills in the country, but they have since reduced it significantly, moving them outside the top five.

One thing is certain, he’s not injured the decison is that of the managers.