Chelsea contacted over Raheem Sterling after Enzo Maresca's blunt statement

Raheem Sterling is getting support from the Professional Footballers’ Association after being excluded from Chelsea’s first team squad. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has made it clear that Sterling does not have a future at the club and he is training separately with Axel Disasi, who has also been left out in the cold.

The PFA has made contact with Chelsea to ensure that Sterling and Disasi can train to stay at the top level. They also want to make sure that Chelsea are not breaking any rules.

England international Sterling, 30, who has two years left on his £325,000-a-week contract, this week posted a picture of himself having to train at night as part of Chelsea’s “bomb squad.” FIFA regulations mean that forcing a player to train by himself can constitute “abusive conduct”, which could allow the player to terminate his own contract with “just cause.”

Sterling spent last season on loan with Arsenal and made it clear that he wanted to leave Chelsea in the summer. But he wanted to stay in London for the sake of his family and a potential move to Fulham did not materialise.

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Sterling and other players under contract are unlikely to give up their contracts because there is big money at stake and the PFA want to ensure no “abusive behaviour” is taken against the player to force them out.

The PFA deals with many similar cases across the Premier League and the EFL with players who are no longer part of a club’s plans but are still under contract.

Disasi's contract expires in 2029 and neither he or Sterling are expected to have any first team chances until the transfer window re-opens in January. FIFA also keeps tabs on players and the PFA has moved to ensure clubs know the full detail of the world governing body’s regulations.

Maresca has made Chelsea’s position clear on Sterling. The PFA was contacted for comment.

Asked about the exiled players recently, Maresca replied: “They are Chelsea players because they have a contract with the club. In this moment, they are still training apart. The idea is to continue in exactly the same way.

“Since we started the season, I didn't see one of them. I didn't see Renato [Veiga, who left for Villarreal], I didn't see Axel, I didn’t see Raheem, because they train at a different time on a different pitch. I haven’t seen them since we started the season.”

And asked if there was any way back into the first team for Sterling and Disasi, Maresca bluntly replied: “With us? No.”

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