Raheem Sterling, one of two Chelsea stars, has been stripped of his team number, while Pedro Neto and Joao Felix have been given new numbers
Chelsea have dropped Raheem Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah from their squad as the club looks to… A number of unwanted players were forced to leave Stamford Bridge.
These two are two members of this group Blues‘The squad includes players such as Ben Chilwell, Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Armando Broja, who have been forced to train separately from the first team.
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Juventus are interested in him RealWhile talkSPORT has learned that Manchester United have been given the opportunity to sign Chilwell as their two left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malasia are out injured.
Not surprisingly, no player from that group was included in Chelsea’s matchday squad for their Premier League opener against Manchester City. lost 2-0,
Sterling took the No.17 jersey when he first joined from City for £47.5million in the summer of 2022 and switched to No.7 last season.
However, that shirt has now gone to the £54m recruit pedro netowho joined from Wolves.
The change comes just days after Neto wore the No. 19 jersey on his Chelsea debut against City.
As for Chalobah, he has been forced to give up his No. 14 jersey for new players. joao felixWho wore the same number during his loan spell with Barcelona last season.
The Portuguese forward’s return to west London was confirmed on Wednesday after Chelsea spent £42.6million to buy him from Atletico Madrid.
During his loan spell at Chelsea in the second half of the 2022/23 season, Felix was given the number 11.
Chelsea confirm number change Club statementBut he stressed they ‘remain subject to change’ until the end of the transfer window.
The club also said it would allow fans to purchase a Neto No. 19 jersey until September 30, which would be available in exchange for a Neto No. 7 jersey.
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Stripping Sterling and Chalobah of their squad numbers is the latest move in a ruthless attempt by new Blues boss Enzo Maresca to phase out players.
Sterling had performed well for Chelsea in pre-season and his representatives released a statement just before Sunday’s match against City seeking “clarity”.
Now he has, with Maresca making it clear he has no future at Chelsea.
“We have a big team and it is impossible to give time to all of them,” Maresca said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“If they’re looking for minutes it’s better for them to leave.
“I’m not saying Raheem isn’t a good player. But I like different types of wingers.”
“I just tried to be honest. I spoke to Raheem before City. I said he would struggle to get minutes with us.
“In (Chilwell’s) case I said he’s a lovely boy but he’s going to struggle. If you define that as cruelty, that’s up to you.”
And Maresca has denied there is any chaos at the club, saying: “I am not working with 42 players, that is something outside. I am working with 21 players. The other 15 or 20 players are training separately.”
“They’re Chelsea players but they’re not working with me. I can’t see them. It’s not as messed up as it looks from the outside, not at all.
“You (media) want to say we are 43 players. But more than 15 players are training separately. They are not with the team.”
Commenting on the possibility of Chelsea being stuck with unwanted players, he said: “That’s not my problem.
“I’m here to make decisions and think what’s best for us. I’m not thinking about how many years the contract is.”
“He has a 20-year contract? I don’t care. It’s not my job.”
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