“I don’t want him to leave” – Enzo Maresca share the Untold Story Behind £325k-per-week ace Surprise Exit from Chelsea
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Chelsea made significant moves during the summer transfer window, driven by the need to downsize their bloated squad. Head coach Enzo Maresca oversaw the departure of 25 players, including big names like Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher, Lewis Hall, Romelu Lukaku, and Raheem Sterling, who either left on loan or were sold permanently.
One surprise revelation from Maresca is that Ben Chilwell was also eager to leave Chelsea this summer but ultimately stayed. Chilwell had been frozen out initially but has since worked his way back into consideration. With Marc Cucurella thriving at left-back, Chilwell may still face tough competition but could see opportunities in cup and European fixtures.
However, the most intriguing development was Raheem Sterling’s loan move to Arsenal. Despite being a top-tier player, Sterling found himself out of favor under Maresca, who simply couldn’t fit him into Chelsea’s packed squad. In a candid admission, Maresca said, “I want Raheem Sterling, but with 30 players in the squad, there is no space for him.”
Sterling’s exit reportedly didn’t sit well with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly, but the decision was made, and Sterling joined Arsenal for the season.
Since moving to Arsenal, Sterling has struggled to make an impact, with only two appearances and underwhelming performances—most notably against Tottenham Hotspur, where Chelsea fans joked that he continued to disrupt attacks. Although he has shown promise in training, he has yet to translate that into success on the field.
With Chelsea’s recent signings of Jadon Sancho, Joao Felix, and Pedro Neto, Sterling’s departure became inevitable. Now, his challenge is to impress while on loan and prove he still has what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
