Former Premier League star Louis Saha admitted he’s surprised Raheem Sterling joined Arsenal and claimed the winger didn’t feel respected at Chelsea.
Despite playing a prominent part in pre-season for the Blues it was made clear to Sterling he wasn’t going to be part of the Chelsea project and he needed to leave the club.
The 29-year-old, who still has three years left on his lucrative Chelsea contact reportedly worth in excess of £300,000 per week faced the prospect of being frozen out and playing no football until January.
Saha not happy with how Chelsea treat player
A lot has been made of how Chelsea treat players, especially in the cases of Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher, and the way players are just sent to train with the under-21s, with the Blues coming in for heavy criticism.
Luckily for Sterling a late deadline day loan move to Arsenal was sorted and he now has an opportunity to get his career back on track after a difficult two years at Stamford Bridge in which he failed to live up to expectations.
Former Manchester United striker Saha has claimed Sterling didn’t feel respected at Chelsea and described the way the club treat players as not “very nice.”
“I’m surprised that Raheem Sterling joined Arsenal, but it’s a very good move for him,” Saha told Paddy Power as cited on X.com.
“He did not feel respected at Chelsea, the way that Chelsea treat people is not very nice.
“Someone like Sterling, he is not going to just sit there and not play. Therefore, it is right to look elsewhere, like Arsenal, where they are playing well.
“They have a style of play that suits Sterling. We know how well he can adapt, especially in such a team, Chelsea need to accept that.”
Chelsea will be hoping Sterling does well this season and plays himself into the market so they can agree a permanent sale next summer, whilst the England international will almost certainly never play or the club again.
“Not very nice?” This is professional football! I guess if I was being paid +300k to NOT play I’d find somehow or another to deal with it, lol! As it stands, I’m not sure I much care how Louis Saha feels about the situation. Sterling was overpaid for what he was able to produce for us and it’s better for all involved that we move him on. Would he rather that the manager be less Frank with him and leave him to languish on the bench all season?