Chelsea dressing room TORN APART as Lukaku sides with Sterling

Carlo Garganese

20 Aug 2024 09:30 BST
3 min read

Raheem Sterling, Chelsea, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Romelu Lukaku has sided with teammate Raheem Sterling in the latest scandal that has erupted at Chelsea.

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Sterling’s representatives released a statement on Sunday expressing surprise that he was not selected in Chelsea’s squad for the Premier League opener against Manchester City, a match the Blues lost 2-0.

Amidst rumours that Chelsea are trying to push Sterling out of the club, the winger’s representatives seeked “clarity” on his role at Stamford Bridge.

Sterling’s actions has caused another divide inside and outside Chelsea, with many people siding with the player and others criticising his actions.

Sterling’s teammate Lukaku is firmly on his side, though.

Lukaku liked a social media post from Rio Ferdinand in which the ex-Man Utd defender accused Chelsea of creating problems in their dressing room.

Ferdinand posted a video with the caption: “Chelsea treatment of Sterling is WILD…. Creating issues in their own dressing room surely?”

Lukaku liked the post, something which will not help the disharmony at the club currently in what has been a summer of upheaval.

Enzo Fernandez’s racist outburst at the Copa America angered and upset many of his Chelsea teammates earlier in the summer.

Meanwhile, the Blues squad has now ballooned to 44 players after a summer of crazy spending, making it very difficult to keep everyone happy.

Lukaku is one of the players for sale and he is waiting to complete a transfer to Napoli.

Lukaku at Chelsea

Lukaku initially rejoined Chelsea from Inter in the summer of 2021 for a then-club record transfer fee of €115 million.

But he was a disaster during the 2021-22 campaign, falling out with manager Thomas Tuchel, criticising the club publicly and performing poorly on the pitch.

Chelsea have tried to sell Lukaku since then but have been unable to find a club willing to pay the amortised cost of his transfer each summer.

As a result, he spent the 2022-23 campaign back at Inter on loan, and then last season on loan at Roma.

Lukaku played at Euro 2024 for Belgium where he failed to find the back of the net as his country were eliminated in the last 16 by France.

He is currently training alone at Chelsea. He is waiting for Napoli to sell Victor Osimhen so that they can spend the money recouped on bringing Lukaku to the club.

He would reunite with his former Inter manager Antonio Conte there.

Read more about: Premier League, Chelsea, Raheem Sterling, Romelu Lukaku