Since the change in ownership, Chelsea have focused on bringing in youngsters and developing them into stars. As a result, in recent years, the Blues have reduced their spending on signing and giving high salaries to experienced players. And even when they have, it has often turned out to be a mistake.
Out of those few brought in since, only one individual remains at Stamford Bridge as of now. We are talking about Raheem Sterling. Throughout the summer, Chelsea tried to find a solution for the player, but their efforts went in vain. And here they are, handing the Englishman a lucrative salary, reported to be in the region of £300,000 per week, for training at Cobham. Enzo Maresca has already made it clear that the player doesn’t feature in his plans for the future.
Various clubs including Fulham, Crystal Palace, and West Ham had shown interest in the player. Now reports have confirmed that Sterling rejected a move to two more European giants, and fans won’t be thrilled to hear about it.
According to BBC, Chelsea brought Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus to the table. Although Sterling was interested, his desire to remain close to his family took precedence.
Raheem Sterling passed up on chance to leave Chelsea for Bayer Leverkusen or Juventus
Chelsea signed Sterling from Manchester City in 2022 for a fee believed to be around €56.2 million. But his time at Stamford Bridge has never met expectations.
Sterling, who was considered one of the best players in the Premier League not too long ago, has lost his form and with it a place in Chelsea’s squad. He isn’t expected to get any first-team minutes unless he finds a new destination.
The English winger was sent on loan to Arsenal last season but failed to impress there as well. As a result, Mikel Arteta's side decided against permanently signing the player.
Anyway, this example shouldn’t discourage Chelsea from further pursuing experienced players moving forward. Rather, it should serve as a reminder to think twice before handing out massive wages and transfer fees in future deals.