Raheem Sterling will be free to leave Chelsea this summer, according to manager Enzo Maresca.
The England international joined the Blues two years ago but has often struggled for consistency during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Sterling was left out of the squad on Sunday as Chelsea lost 2-0 to Manchester City in their Premier League opener.
His camp then released a statement saying they wanted ‘clarity’ over his future at the club.
Raheem Sterling’s career with Chelsea is over with Enzo Maresca confirming the news at a press conference ahead of his side’s UEFA Conference League clash with Servette on Thursday
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Now, speaking ahead of Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League clash with Servette, Maresca has confirmed the winger is free to leave.
“In this moment, they are training apart [from the team],” he said when asked about Sterling and Ben Chilwell.
“As I said, the situation, with both of them is quite clear, there is not any update on the situation.”
When asked if he was being brutal, he added: “Brutal? I don’t think so I just had to try to be honest.
“I just said and I will say it again, I spoke with Raheem [Sterling] before Manchester City, I said that he is going to struggle to get minutes with us.
“With Chilly [Ben Chilwell], I said he is a lovely guy but with his position, he’s going to struggle with us.
“It’s not brutal, it’s honest.”
The Italian also said it is ‘better’ for both players to leave. He did admit their departures aren’t guaranteed, however, despite the pair being informed they’re surplus to requirements.
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“Until they aren’t Chelsea players, they will be Chelsea players,” he said.
“We have a big squad, for me it’s impossible to give everyone minutes so if they’re looking for minutes, probably it is better to leave and in case they don’t leave they have a contract here, they are Chelsea players.”
Maresca then proceeded to admit that it will be tough to keep his squad happy.
Chelsea today landed Joao Felix, with the Portugal international returning to Stamford Bridge following a difficult time at Atletico Madrid.
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Raheem Sterling has struggled for form ever since moving to Chelsea back in the summer transfer window of 2022
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And Maresca knows he had a big headache on his hands.
“I think it is the manager whose job is to keep the players happy but this is something almost impossible because they train every day to get minutes and at the end only 11 are going to play,” he said.
“Some of them will play some minutes from the bench. It’s almost impossible to keep all of them happy.
“The only thing I can say is that I try to be honest with all of them in this moment, the noise is from outside.
Raheem Sterling is surplus to requirements at Chelsea following the appointment of Enzo Maresca as manager
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“More than 15 players, they are training apart, they are not with the team.”
Chelsea will be hoping to beat Servette in their clash on Thursday.
It is their first time in the UEFA Conference League but Maresca is set to take the tournament seriously as he looks to win his first trophy since his appointment earlier this summer.