The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has entered discussions with Chelsea to resolve the situation surrounding Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, who have both been frozen out of first-team training under head coach Enzo Maresca.
Sterling and Disasi are currently working away from Chelsea’s senior squad, with Maresca confirming last week that they are not part of his plans for the season.
“First of all, they are Chelsea players and have contracts with the club, but at this moment they are still training apart,” Maresca said. “Since the start of the season, I haven’t seen them. Is there a way back? No.”
Both players were expected to secure moves during the summer transfer window. Sterling attracted interest from clubs including Napoli and Bayern Munich, while Disasi was also linked with an exit. However, no deals materialised.
Sterling, who earns around £300,000 per week, has two years left on his Chelsea contract, while defender Disasi is tied to Stamford Bridge until 2029. The pair are now maintaining fitness with trainers arranged by the club, hoping to secure exits in the January transfer window.
Earlier this week, Sterling posted an Instagram story of himself training at Chelsea’s Cobham base late in the evening, highlighting his determination to stay in shape despite the ongoing situation.
FIFA regulations state that forcing players to train alone could be deemed abusive conduct, giving players the right to terminate contracts under “just cause.”
The PFA is working to ensure regulations are upheld while also considering the interests of both the players and the club.
Cases like Sterling and Disasi’s are not isolated, with the PFA increasingly involved in similar disputes across football. Both Chelsea and the PFA declined to comment when contacted.
