Romelu Lukaku Backs Raheem Sterling Amid Chelsea Selection Controversy

Sterling’s Omission from Premier League Opener Sparks Debate; Lukaku Shows Support on Social Media

Romelu Lukaku has publicly sided with his Chelsea teammate Raheem Sterling amid a brewing controversy surrounding the winger’s omission from the squad for the Premier League opener against Manchester City, which ended in a 2-0 defeat for the Blues.

The situation escalated after Sterling’s representatives issued a statement expressing surprise at his exclusion from the matchday squad. The statement also sought “clarity” on Sterling’s future role at Stamford Bridge, fueling speculation that Chelsea may be attempting to push the England international out of the club.

Sterling’s actions have sparked a debate within and outside Chelsea, with some backing the player’s stance while others criticize his approach. Lukaku, however, has made it clear where his loyalties lie.

The Belgian striker liked a social media post by former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who accused Chelsea of creating unnecessary problems within their dressing room. Ferdinand’s post, which featured a video, was captioned: “Chelsea treatment of Sterling is WILD… Creating issues in their own dressing room surely?”

Lukaku’s public show of support for Sterling comes at a time when Chelsea is already dealing with significant internal strife. The club has faced a turbulent summer, with a bloated squad of 44 players following a spree of transfers, making it increasingly difficult to maintain harmony within the team.

Adding to the unrest, reports earlier in the summer indicated that Enzo Fernandez’s alleged racist outburst at the Copa America caused further division among Chelsea players.

Lukaku, who is currently training alone at Chelsea, is among the players the club is looking to offload. The striker, who rejoined Chelsea from Inter Milan in 2021 for a then-club record fee of €115 million, has struggled to find form and has had a contentious relationship with the club. After a disappointing 2021-22 season, Lukaku was loaned back to Inter and then to Roma.

Currently, Lukaku is awaiting a potential move to Napoli, contingent on the club selling their star striker Victor Osimhen. If the deal goes through, Lukaku would reunite with former Inter manager Antonio Conte at Napoli.

As Chelsea navigates this period of upheaval, the situation surrounding Sterling and Lukaku underscores the growing tensions within the club, as players and management grapple with the challenges of a disjointed and unsettled squad.

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