Ex-Liverpool star Raheem Sterling demands anwers from Chelsea in surprise statement after axe

Former Liverpool academy and first team star Raheem Sterling is seeking answers about his future after being omitted from Chelsea 's squad to face Manchester City .

The 29-year-old's position at Chelsea has been the subject of speculation in recent months, but he continued to be a regular part of the Blues' preparations as they toured the United States for pre-season. There's no lack of competition for the former City player, with Chelsea recently signing Pedro Neto, who was on the bench on Sunday and also boasting talents like Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and Nicolas Jackson who can play on the wings.

Last season, Sterling netted eight goals and provided four assists in 31 Premier League appearances. However, it wasn't enough to secure a spot in England's Euro 2024 squad as he fluctuated in and out of Mauricio Pochettino's team. Still, being excluded from Chelsea's matchday squad ahead of Enzo Maresca's first Premier League game came as a shock to the former Liverpool star. Sterling is reported to remain dedicated to the club.

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A statement from Sterling'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, who he has developed a good working relationship with.

"He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in 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 in relation to 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."

Ben Chilwell's absence alongside Sterling from the group didn't go unnoticed. Coach Maresca acknowledged earlier that moving on from Chelsea was preferable for the left-back.

Further updates affecting team dynamics include Conor Gallagher, still not integrated into the first-team training sessions and seemingly set for a switch to Atletico Madrid, fostering speculations about a possible exchange involving Joao Felix, who enjoyed a loan spell at Chelsea earlier. In addition, defender Trevoh Chalobah is practicing independently from the main squad, hinting at potential transfer developments.