Raheem Sterling has laid bare the reality of continuingly being outcast by Chelsea.
The 30-year-old shared via Instagram that he was left to train alone at 8pm on September 15.
He's been left out of Chelsea's squad for their opening Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich on September 17.
Sterling has fallen out of favour with the club for some time now.
Raheem Sterling on Instagram: pic.twitter.com/RQjWQYdMuT
— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) September 15, 2025
The England International spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Arsenal and since his return, boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed it's still unlikely the winger will return to the fold.
Sterling tried to get a move away from Chelsea over the summer, but wanted to stay in London.
He piqued the interest of Crystal Palace, West Ham and Fulham - the latter even attempted a deal on Deadline Day, but it fell through.
It was also reported Bayern Munich were also interested in the former Man City star.
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany shared he hopes Sterling can "show the whole world what his quality is" again soon, but also sympathised with Maresca over the tough decisions a manager must make.
The Chelsea manager confirmed he's not seen Sterling and other members of what's now being called "the bomb squad" - exiled players - since their return in the summer.
He said they have been training apart and will continue that way.
When asked if there's any way back for the exiled players, Maresca said; "With us? No."
So what happens to Sterling now?
With the World Cup mere months away, Sterling will be desperate for game time to impress England boss Thomas Tuchel.
The winger's hopes at Chelsea are dead-in-the-water, Maresca made that clear last August, stating the outcast was "going to struggle to get minutes" with side.
Sterling's last appearances for England came during the 2022 World Cup. Mid-tournament his Surrey home was burgled, interrupting his experience. He later returned and featured in their quarter-final loss to France.
It's only expected that no game time will be hurting Sterling, as he'll want to make impact in England's 2026 World Cup campaign.
The only way to rectify the current situation is a move away from Chelsea during January's transfer window.
He is still contracted to the West London club until 2027.
Other sides have shown interest over the summer and Sterling could only hope that he could strike a deal with one of them.
But the struggle will be around showcasing what he can do now to potential clubs, as he trains solo behind closed doors.
It also wouldn't be surprising if clubs find favour for him out of pure sympathy.
Sterling is a well-known, impactful player, not just at club level but for England.
He can only hope now, that he keeps his physical and mental focus amidst a disappointing and painful time at Chelsea.
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