Chelsea's squad will remain divided going into a new season as Enzo Maresca has reportedly excluded at least four men going into the Club World Cup.
The Blues kick off their campaign next Monday against Club Leon of Mexico before further group fixtures against Flamengo and ES Tunis.
Last summer Maresca made the hierarchy clear as he banished 13 stars to train away from the first team in the development facility with Carlo Cudicini.
Now, the manager has excluded Djordje Petrovic, Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, and Axel Disasi from his tournament squad, according to The Telegraph.
All four spent at least the second half of the 2024-25 season out on loan. Petrovic is a particular surprise given Chelsea's goalkeeping situation and his impressive performances on loan at Strasbourg.
Meanwhile, fellow Strasbourg loanee Andrey Santos, as well as new signings, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, and Mamadou Sarr, have been included.
Santos is the exception to the rule, with other players who were sent out on loan being sidelined as Chelsea see this as an extension to the 2024-25 campaign.
Sterling struggled for starts at Arsenal, Disasi was a rotation player at Aston Villa, and Felix endured a tricky loan spell at AC Milan, even being branded 'useless' by Italian journalist Fabio Ravezzani.
Chelsea would have liked to be naming Jamie Gittens and Mike Maignan in their troop for their American trip but were spurned on the miniature deadline day.
Borussia Dortmund rejected Chelsea's second offer of £42million for Gittens and the Blues chose not to increase their offer, with the Bundesliga giants wanting closer to £55m.
The second transfer window of the summer will re-open on Monday and any signings after then can be registered for the knockout stages of the Club World Cup.
Chelsea's approach for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan collapsed after they refused to meet the asking price.
The west Londoners valued the 29-year-old France international, who has a year left on his deal at the San Siro, as high as £12.7m.
But Milan wanted as much as £20m and were happy to impose a 'Club World Cup tax,' on Chelsea, knowing they are set to bank some cash from the tournament.
That saga makes Petrovic's exclusion more surprising, because they are left with Filip Jorgensen, Robert Sanchez, and Mike Petrovic, none of whom have made an overwhelming case for the gloves long-term.
While Chelsea's deal for Maignan fell through, they did complete the signing of defender Sarr from Strasbourg for £12m on Monday morning.
That took the club's spending this summer to £60m already, having finalised moves for Delap and highly rated Sporting Lisbon prospect Essugo.
Maresca will get a better feel for his side ahead of a demanding season which entails a return to the Champions League.
Chelsea won the Europa Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League last season.
Diobcdeino
0
You people thinks this coach is good, not at all, this is why he threw away our fight the trophy this past season. He makes vital mistakes all the time.
Yizabirsy
0
pls fire him, he's unreasonable, he's taking bribe from players
Joceikstu
1
sterling should go back to arsenal
KehindeSeun
0
did u just say irrelevant tournament. I like u are highly drunk. this is a dream tournament for every club and player becoz from now on u grt to play it every 4yrs that is if u qualify to play. this competition is not easy to qualify as we speak.
I understand your point but as of now club don't really take this tournament seriously you will see that most team will use their young players more in the tournament
Jumachelsea
2
Felix petrovic deserves to be in that squad this is a mistake coach not again sanches f****** me f*** now you are piercing me off coach kepa and petrovic supposed to be in that squad the other two out when are you going to learn m***********s***
kiwbcipt
1
But what is the problem with this maresca. he is making the same mistake he make will chaloba again. why will you just axe players without given him a chance ?? palmer is the only 10 in that team felix should also be given a chance to play in this tournament because why will you want to use ur most valuable players throughout irrelevant tournament,palmer should be given a chance to rest and use Felix morever we are short in left winger and Felix can play there.
did u just say irrelevant tournament. I like u are highly drunk. this is a dream tournament for every club and player becoz from now on u grt to play it every 4yrs that is if u qualify to play. this competition is not easy to qualify as we speak.
LONE_WOLF_OFFICIAL
0
Enzo out: Na you dey pay his salary?
No, your mother does 🤣
BREEZE_WEST
0
But what is the problem with this maresca. he is making the same mistake he make will chaloba again. why will you just axe players without given him a chance ?? palmer is the only 10 in that team felix should also be given a chance to play in this tournament because why will you want to use ur most valuable players throughout irrelevant tournament,palmer should be given a chance to rest and use Felix morever we are short in left winger and Felix can play there.
Irrelevant tournament be like say you don’t know how much is on the line in this CWC .. it is now fhe highest paying football tournament in the history of football.. euro teams collect 30mil just on appearance alone .. the total money for the competition exceed 1billion .. bro everyone is stacking for this tournament you’re looking down on 😂
Doabikmptu
0
How the f**k does he axe Petrović when he need him the most now?.. Enzo Maresca OUT!
Enzo out: Na you dey pay his salary?
KehindeSeun
2
But what is the problem with this maresca. he is making the same mistake he make will chaloba again. why will you just axe players without given him a chance ?? palmer is the only 10 in that team felix should also be given a chance to play in this tournament because why will you want to use ur most valuable players throughout irrelevant tournament,palmer should be given a chance to rest and use Felix morever we are short in left winger and Felix can play there.
Kehadnyz
1
why does he hate Petrovic?
Immaculate003
0
Djordje Petrovic deserves the starting berth amongst all Chelsea goalkeepers. I also wish Kepa stays.
lihdelou
0
Chelsea coach should this!! why he should exclude Petrovic?
sepabdeiou
1
Dorde Petrovic should have been included he's such a humble keeper
Kapalmsyz
0
Petrovic
Llorenzo
0
How the f**k does he axe Petrović when he need him the most now?.. Enzo Maresca OUT!
Enzo MARESCA doesn't even call the shots in this case... Just the business men doing business. They left Petrovic out of the CWC contigents so they can sell him once transfer window reopens on Monday... Genius Clowns🤡😡
LONE_WOLF_OFFICIAL
2
How the f**k does he axe Petrović when he need him the most now?.. Enzo Maresca OUT!