Raheem Sterling has decided enough is enough. This is his side of the Chelsea banishment story: THE SAMI MOKBEL COLUMN

Raheem Sterling's side of the story is simple. He wanted clarity. He’s got it.

It took a little over 24 hours for Sterling and his representatives to achieve what they had set out to in releasing a statement to Mail Sport. We heard, well in advance of the player, of Enzo Maresca’s decision to drop the attacker from his first competitive squad ahead of Sunday’s loss to Manchester City, which left the 29-year-old winger’s future unclear.

When questioning the merits of Sterling’s decision that set the news agenda on fire this week, it is probably worth considering the speed at which the remarks got him the clarity he craved following weeks of whispers he was for sale.

Indeed, it was on Monday this week when Sterling was finally told from someone other than Maresca that it was the club’s intention to sell him.

As uncomfortable as that may have been for Sterling to hear, it is a stance he is prepared to accept. This was never about questioning his manager’s choice, although much of the ire thrown in the direction of Sterling and his camp this week originates from a misconception that Sunday’s statement was in response to his omission. It was never about that.

Following a summer of what Sterling construed as a sequence of contradictory messages, it was decided that enough was enough.

At the end of last season during talks between Chelsea and Sterling’s camp, prior to Maresca’s appointment, the player was provided with no indication of any intention to sell him. Maresca himself described Sterling as an ‘important player’ during one of his first interviews upon arriving from Leicester, and selected him to play a part in all six of Chelsea’s pre-season matches.

In June, Sterling spoke to former City team-mate Tosin Adarabioyo to convince him to reject Newcastle’s advances and sign for Chelsea. He’d made the same phone call to Cole Palmer 12 months earlier. From Sterling’s perspective he remained central to Chelsea’s operation in every which way.

Yet the external noise painted a different picture. Stories about Chelsea being open to selling Sterling began to circulate as soon as the transfer window re-opened. Suspicions were raised that Chelsea weren’t being transparent about their plans for him. Not that anyone had told Sterling.

Then came last Friday when Maresca, just two days before the start of their season, pulled Sterling aside at Chelsea’s Cobham training centre to explain that it would be in his best interests to start gauging interest from possible suitors.

On Sunday his omission from the squad was confirmed, his axing explained as a ‘technical’ decision. Then, on Monday morning just hours after his omission, Sterling’s image was plastered across the official announcement of Chelsea's sponsorship deal with events marketing firm Fever.

On Wednesday, Maresca - just weeks after claiming he was an ‘important’ player - told media Sterling would struggle to get minutes under him and that he ‘prefers different types of wingers’. Later that afternoon news emerged of Sterling being stripped of the No7 shirt, which has been handed to summer signing Pedro Neto.

Wednesday’s public unravelling of Sterling’s time at Chelsea was playing out while the player was given permission to have two days off.

When he returns to Cobham, there’s every chance he’ll be prohibited from using first-team facilities like Trevoh Chalobah - a player who joined the club at the age of eight - has been.

So, with that said, if Sterling had no idea as to whether he was coming or going then even his biggest detractors would surely sympathise. If Sterling feels disrespected, surely you’d understand.

Monday’s talks, that Sterling was directly involved in, finally provided the clarity he wanted. But why couldn’t they have told him at the start of summer?

It is, of course, Chelsea's prerogative to deal with the situation in the manner they see fit. Similarly, it is Sterling’s prerogative to have called for transparency over his own future in the fashion he did on Sunday.

The discussions this week were to the point, with all parties agreeing to work together to find a solution. A plan has been formulated that will see Chelsea update Sterling about clubs who have expressed an interest between now and next Friday’s deadline.

It does beg the question, however, as to why a plan wasn’t formulated earlier than Monday - and if there was one why Sterling wasn’t party to it.

At least now Sterling has at some control and clearness over what lies ahead. When Chelsea present him with his options, he won’t be forced into doing anything that isn’t right for him or his family.

His kids are settled in London, to uproot them would create upheaval. He’d do it for the right project, for a move that excites him. Not because Chelsea tell him to.

There are obvious obstacles, his reported £325,000-per-week wage a clear issue. There aren’t many clubs, if any, in Europe who would be willing to take on that level of salary. Clubs in Saudi Arabia may match that money, but Sterling is currently unwilling to consider a move to the Middle East.

But for the right team, he now has a say in whether his wage will prove an obstacle or not.

It is ambition that will drive Sterling in the crucial coming days. He wants to regain his place in the England setup and wants a club that can provide a platform for him to achieve that goal. Those who know Sterling will tell you he wouldn’t have put on record his desire to play international football again if he had received any signal that he was out of Maresca’s plans.

There’s plenty to consider - but at least he will have 12 days from Sunday’s statement to sort himself out.

Sterling also has a far clearer depiction of the market he may not have had without the weekend hoo-ha. Ultimately, Sterling took a stand. Many will maintain his course of action was unpalatable - but perhaps moving forward Chelsea will reconsider their approach to how they treat their players.

Just ask Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja or Chalobah - a quartet of players to have emerged through Chelsea’s academy - about how they have been treated.

Who knows, maybe Sterling was taking a stand for them. But will Chelsea listen?

Saka the main victim of online abuse

Bukayo Saka was the most targeted player for serious online abuse at Euro 2024, Mail Sport can reveal.

We can also reveal that his England team-mate Jude Bellingham was the next most severely targeted player during the tournament.

In a UEFA report seen by Mail Sport and distributed to the governing body’s human rights board, it is noted that Arsenal attacker Saka was the subject of the most ‘tier one’ comments with 51, while Bellingham was targeted with 40.

UEFA classify tier one comments as ‘being the most harmful and recognised as candidate for prosecution according to law’. Such posts are immediately reported to platforms for removal. Racist abuse would fall under the tier 1 category.

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, who represents Switzerland, was third-most targeted with 31 comments followed by Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who plays for Belgium, with 30.

Saka was the victim of sickening racial abuse following Euro 2020 after missing a penalty in the heartbreaking shoot-out loss to Italy in the final at Wembley. And now, four years on, the brilliant Gunners forward continues to receive despicable taunts online.

The report also states that Germany midfielder Toni Kroos received the most online taunts that fell under UEFA’s three-tiered grading system, with 393 comments. Kylian Mbappe (271), Joao Felix (261), Antonio Silva (238), Harry Kane (233) and Lukaku (229) followed.

Tier two comments are judged as offensive but can be considered, to a certain extent, as expression of freedom of speech. Tier three are judged as disrespectful targeting, that can be considered as expression of freedom of speech and therefore not reported for removal.

The report also reveals that England, the Netherlands, Belgium and France were the four teams most affected by online abuse.

Southgate tweak left players miffed

Some of England’s senior players were miffed by Gareth Southgate’s decision to revert to a conventional back four for the Euro 2024 final against Spain.

England started the first four games of the tournament in a 4-2-3-1 system but switched to a 3-4-3 formation for the quarter-final win over Switzerland and semi-final victory over the Dutch.

The national team were criticised for their performances in their three group games against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia and were similarly slammed for their last-16 display against Slovakia.

But having changed systems for the quarter and semi-final, England produced improved performances.

So with that in mind, Mail Sport has learned that key players were left flummoxed by the decision to utilise a back four for the final against Spain in Berlin given the change in system had triggered an improvement. Certain players felt their struggles to contain Spain at the Olympic Stadium was a result, in part, of the decision to move back to plan A.

Carsley in the running to succeed Southgate 

Sticking with England, Lee Carsley will be a contender for the position as full-time head coach should he impress during the forthcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.

Carsley is determined to make his mark after being promoted from his position as Under 21 boss to as interim senior head coach, following the resignation of Gareth Southgate after Euro 2024.

The former Everton midfielder will have at least September’s Nations League games against Ireland and Finland to impress. But the FA are not ruling out Carsley taking the entire campaign, in a group that also includes Greece, before taking stock in November ahead of World Cup qualifying that starts next year.

Eddie Howe remains the favourite among leading figures at the FA, but if Carsley has the opportunity to make the position his own.

Kane and Dier bid farewell to Tottenham 

Harry Kane and Eric Dier were given the freedom of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this month so they could finally bid personal farewells to former colleagues.

Spurs stalwarts Kane and Dier left the club last season for Bayern Munich after prolonged spells with the north London side, during which the duo emerged as two of the club’s most important players in recent times.

However, both left in hurried circumstances meaning neither were able to say face-to-face goodbyes to club staff.

Kane and Dier both returned to their former home on August 10 for a pre-season clash which resulted in Bayern defeating Ange Postecoglou’s side 3-2.

And in a gesture of goodwill from Spurs both players, who came on as late substitutes, were permitted access to all areas so they could reconnect with their ex-colleagues in parts of the stadium usually sealed off to the away team. ‘They saw a lot of staff that day,’ said an insider.

Staff exit at Arsenal

Arsenal’s head of methodology Kevin Balvers has left the club to take up a similar role at PSV Eindhoven.

Joining from Malmo in 2021, he became the first appointment of his type at the Emirates Stadium, tasked with shaping first-team analysis in terms of data as well as identifying best practices and trends from tactical, technical, performance and recruitment perspective.

Pogba starts fight to overturn ban 

Paul Pogba’s Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal hearing against his doping ban begins next week, with the midfielder provided with fresh hope in his efforts to restart his career.

Jannik Sinner, the men’s world No1 tennis player, avoided a doping ban this week after successfully arguing his two failed tests had been the result of contamination through his physiotherapist.

The ruling has been acknowledged from the Pogba camp as a key development as they fight a four-year ban, given similarities in the two cases.

Juventus and France star Pogba tested positive for DHEA, a banned substance that boosts testosterone. The positive reading was triggered by a set of pills allegedly prescribed by a US-based wellness firm called 10X Health Systems.

And the resemblance between cases has boosted Pogba’s hopes.

Abraham transfer to go down to the wire

Tammy Abraham’s future will be a live issue heading into the final days of the transfer window.

The Roma striker is attracting interest from Juventus, who have stepped up their interest in recent days.

But there are a number of Premier League sides who are also looking into the prospect of making a late move for the former Chelsea forward.

Leicester chase Greece star 

Leicester have been told to pay a minimum £26million if they want to sign Panathinaikos forward Fotis Ioannidis.

The Foxes have already bid £23million for the Greece international. Sources claim talks are ongoing between the clubs for Ioannis, who is also wanted by Sporting Lisbon.