The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have held talks with Chelsea in an attempt to find a solution to the situation regarding Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi.
Sterling and Disasi are currently training away from Chelsea’s first-team squad and head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed they are not in his plans.
“First of all, they are Chelsea players and have contracts with the club, but at this moment they are still training apart,” Maresca said last week. “Since the start of the season, I haven’t seen them.”
When asked if there is any way back into the squad for the duo, Maresca replied: “No.”
Standard Sport understands the PFA are working with the club and players to try and find a solution.
Earlier this week, Sterling posted a picture on his Instagram story of him training at Chelsea’s Cobham complex at past 8pm in the evening.
Sterling still has two years left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, which is reported to be worth around £300,000 a week. Disasi’s deal, meanwhile, runs until 2029.
It had been expected that the pair would find new clubs during the most recent transfer window and both attracted interest, including from Napoli and Bayern Munich in Sterling, but they were unable to secure moves.
They are now working with trainers in the hope that exits can be sealed in January. Chelsea have arranged designated trainers and times to train for the two players to keep them in shape.
FIFA regulations state how making players train alone could be considered abusive conduct.
The player involved may then have a right to serve notice and terminate their contract by citing “just cause” as a reason to do so.
The PFA will work to make sure that the rules are followed, while also understanding the club’s position and the players’ situations.
Scenarios like the one involving Sterling and Disasi are not uncommon and it has become an increasing issue for the PFA to deal with across other leagues.
Chelsea and the PFA both declined to comment when approached by Standard Sport.
