Four years after being a star for England, Raheem Sterling, 30, faces a season in exile at Chelsea.
He’s been sidelined by new manager Enzo Maresca and is now part of the club’s “bomb squad,” a small group of players isolated from the main team.
The stalemate is financial, rooted in the £30 million remaining on his £325,000-per-week contract. Neither the club nor the player seems willing to compromise on a severance package, leaving Sterling in a state of limbo.
Despite his talent, finding a new club has been difficult. His high wages and a strong preference to stay in London to avoid disrupting his family have limited his options.
While Chelsea claims to have brought opportunities from clubs like Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus to the table, Sterling’s desire to remain in the city took precedence.
With the transfer window closed, Sterling continues to be paid by Chelsea but remains without a clear path forward.
The situation leaves both sides in a difficult position, with a resolution unlikely before the January transfer window.
