Life at Chelsea hasn’t been easy for Raheem Sterling this season.
The 30-year-old winger has given fans a glimpse into what it’s like being part of the club’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ — players left on the periphery after failing to secure moves away during the transfer window.
Following the summer transfer period, Sterling returned to Cobham training but is now working separately from Chelsea’s first team.
The situation has left him isolated, training alone while the main squad continues preparations under Enzo Maresca.
Maresca Rules Out a Return for Outcasts
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has made it clear there is little chance of Sterling or other outcasts like Axel Disasi and David Datro Fofana rejoining the first team.
“They are Chelsea players because they have a contract with the club,” Maresca said.
“In this moment, they are still training apart. The idea is to continue in exactly the same way.”
The manager added that since the season started, he hasn’t seen Sterling or some of the other excluded players at all:
“Since we started the season, I didn’t see one of them.
I didn’t see Renato (Veiga), I didn’t see Axel (Disasi), I didn’t see Raheem (Sterling), because they train at a different time on a different pitch. I haven’t seen them since we started the season.”
When asked if there’s any path back into the first team, Maresca was blunt: “With us? No.”
Sterling Shares His Loneliness on Social Media
On Monday night, Sterling offered a candid insight into his situation on Instagram.
He shared a photo of Cobham’s empty training pitches, timestamped 20:21, with the simple caption “training” accompanied by a handshake and cold-face emoji.
He also posted an image of his Chelsea kit alongside his Puma football boots, highlighting the solitary routine of a player left out of Maresca’s plans.
Transfer Interest Fails to Materialize
Despite interest from several European clubs, Sterling’s future remains in limbo.
Bayern Munich reportedly enquired about his services on deadline day, while Napoli was also said to be interested.
Chelsea teammate Nicolas Jackson eventually moved to Bayern on loan after an 11th-hour delay, but Sterling’s own high wages — reportedly £325,000 per week — appear to have deterred several potential suitors.
Moreover, Sterling is understood to prefer staying in England, ideally close to London, and has shown no interest in moves to the Saudi Pro League, which remains open until September 23.
A Challenging Season Ahead
With first-team opportunities blocked and European transfer interest not materializing, Sterling faces a difficult road ahead at Stamford Bridge.
While fans and pundits debate his future, the winger is left focusing on individual training, keeping fit, and waiting to see how his situation unfolds in the coming months.