No mercy from Maresca: Chelsea star still exiled after Bomb Squad update

Axel Disasi has been pardoned by Chelsea, but Raheem Sterling remains in ‘Bomb Squad’ exile, according to a report.

Since 2024, Chelsea have exiled unwanted players to their so-called ‘Bomb Squad’ in a bid to push them out of the club. Forced to train in a small group away from the first team, sometimes late in the evening, these players have no future at the club.

This summer, Chelsea managed to offload most of the players deemed surplus to requirements, but two big-money signings remained on the books.

Defender Axel Disasi was to be sold after spending the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, but a late move back to his former club Monaco collapsed due to the Ligue 1 side only offering a loan.

Raheem Sterling, one of the marquee signings of the 2022 summer window, was also to be offloaded after failing to impress on loan at Arsenal last season. However, he, too, was unable to get a move as he wanted to stay in London.

Disasi pardoned but Sterling remains in exile

It has now been reported that Chelsea have decided to bring Disasi back into the fold as they have been left shorthanded in the defensive department due to injuries.

Disasi has reportedly been training very well and was allowed to captain Chelsea’s U21s recently. He has now returned to first-team training at Cobham for the first time in months and could play for the senior side again, although a January exit remains likely.

However, the same can’t be said for Sterling. As Sky Sports reports, the 30-year-old remains frozen out by Enzo Maresca and is the last remaining member of the ‘Bomb Squad.’

Looking ahead to January, it is unclear if Sterling will seek a move away. He is Chelsea’s best-paid player and is not in a rush to leave his lucrative contract behind. Moreover, he has a young family to take care of and remains reluctant to leave London.

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