Raheem Sterling stripped of Chelsea shirt number as No.7 reallocated to team-mate

Raheem Sterling's miserable time as a Chelsea player might be coming towards an end, but the club's final act has rubbed even more salt in the winger's wounds.

Sterling, who joined the Blues for £50million in 2022, looks set to depart the club this summer having been exiled from Chelsea training by Enzo Maresca.

However, despite seemingly having one foot out of the door, Sterling's misery has been compounded by Chelsea handing his beloved number-seven shirt to new signing Pedro Neto.

The recent arrival had worn the number 19 shirt on his Chelsea debut against Manchester City, but will instead be donning the number seven jersey going forward.

It comes after Sterling was left out of the Chelsea squad for their Premier League opener against City over the weekend - a move that appeared to anger the player and his entourage.

A statement released after his snub read: “Our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.

"As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.”

It looks as if clarity has been afforded to him, but perhaps not in the way Sterling would've liked, with the English winger being told to find a new club before next week's deadline.

Boss Maresca hinted the only way Sterling will get first-team minutes this season is if he leaves Chelsea and signs on elsewhere.

Speaking ahead of the two-time European champions' Europa Conference League tie against Servette, the Italian coach said: “The only thing I can say is that I try to be honest with all of them in this moment, the noise is from outside,” Maresca said. “More than 15 players are training apart, they are not with the team.

“I spoke with Raheem before Manchester City, I said that he is going to struggle to get minutes with us. With Chilly [Ben Chilwell] I said he is a lovely guy, but with his position, he’s going to struggle with us. It’s not brutal, it’s honest.

“I am not working with 42 players, I am working with 21 players [in first-team training]. It’s not a mess like it looks from outside. The other players can even have 20 years contract, it is not my point. I don’t care.”

Maresca's attention is firmly fixed on the Conference League qualifier against Servette at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea eyeing up a spot in the group stage.

Following Thursday night's clash in west London, the six-time English champions head to Molineux for their second Premier League fixture of the campaign.