Chelsea ‘bomb squad’ duo Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi have made headlines this week following action from the PFA.
PFA concerns over Chelsea treatment of Sterling and Disasi
Enzo Maresca has frozen both players out of training with the first-team squad, and they are currently undergoing separate training regimes after failing to secure moves away from Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window.
Sterling in particular caused a stir when he posted a picture on social media which showed him training alone in a late-night 8pm session — and this has prompted the PFA to express their concern over Chelsea’s treatment of the pair.
PFA executive Maheta Molango has stepped in to ensure that the club are complying with FIFA’s regulations on isolated players are being followed by Maresca’s side, with Chelsea’s manager firing back in a press conference on Friday and making an interesting comparison to his father.
“My father is 75 years old and for 50 years he has been a fisherman, working from two o’clock in the morning to 10 o’clock in the morning,” Maresca said.
“This is sad in life – not a player and the way that they work.
“I’ve been in Raheem’s situation and Axel’s situation as a player, and for sure, I know that it’s not the best feeling for a player because you want to train and play and then, for a different reason, the situation is the situation. I know that the club is giving them the opportunity to work in the right way and this is the only thing I can say.
“It’s not just Chelsea, it’s any club in the world, I can promise you.”
Since the PFA’s worries, it has been reported, after constructive talks with Chelsea, that they’re now satisfied with the west Londoners’ treatment of Disasi and Sterling (talkSPORT).
The latter endured a lacklustre spell on loan at Arsenal last season and failed to convince Mikel Arteta’s side to sign him permanently, while it is believed that Disasi had offers to leave Chelsea before September 1 but didn’t take them.
The Frenchman rejected moves to West Ham, Bournemouth and Sunderland — holding out for a return to Monaco which never materialised (BBC) — while reports of a potential transfer to Saudi Arabia for Disasi haven’t gone anywhere so far with their window still open.
Chelsea have also been tipped to terminate Sterling’s contract and rid themselves of his £325,000-per-week wages, but according to GiveMeSport, the club are attempting to hand him and Disasi a good chance of leaving in January.
Chelsea’s gift to Sterling and Disasi to hand them “best possible chance” of move
As per GiveMeSport and journalist Ben Jacobs, Disasi and Sterling have received a Chelsea gift to hand them the “best possible chance” of leaving in January, or failing that next summer.
Jacobs reports that Chelsea are “supporting” Disasi and Sterling with a personal training regimen to maintain their sharpness as they look for 2026 suitors, with the latter’s controversial social media post not a reflection on the current situation.
While the PFA are satisfied for now, after discussions with the Blues, they will continue to monitor their situations whilst keeping an eye on any potential misdoings.
Sterling’s preference is to remain in London, which makes a transfer for the forward complicated to secure, as it seriously limits his options. A move to the Middle East for either appears off the table, so the notoriously difficult winter window is now their best bet of leaving as soon as possible.
