Maresca Shakes Things Up: Sterling, Felix Left Out of Chelsea’s Club World Cup Squad
Chelsea’s new boss, Enzo Maresca, isn’t wasting time making bold decisions.
As the team prepares for their 2025 Club World Cup campaign, the Italian manager has made some major calls—leaving out several big-name players from the squad that will face LAFC, Flamengo, and Espérance in the group stage.
Among the most notable absentees? Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix—two stars with hefty price tags and even bigger expectations.
Sterling, once a £50 million signing, finds himself sidelined after an underwhelming loan spell at Arsenal. Felix, who rejoined Chelsea permanently last summer only to be loaned out again, hasn’t made the cut either.
Also missing from the list is Axel Disasi, who spent the latter part of the season with Aston Villa. But perhaps the biggest shock comes in goal—Serbian shot-stopper Djordje Petrovic won’t be heading to the tournament, despite a standout performance on loan at Strasbourg.
Petrovic had been tipped to challenge for the starting role after Chelsea’s failed attempt to sign Mike Maignan. But Maresca has instead stuck with Robert Sánchez, Filip Jorgensen, and promising youngster Mike Penders as his goalkeeping trio.
An insider at the club shared that the squad selection is being approached as an extension of the current season—meaning players out on loan weren’t prioritized, even if they impressed.
One exception? Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, who’s back with the squad and ready to make his mark on the tournament.
