Chelsea has made some surprising decisions in selecting their Club World Cup squad, axing four high-profile players, including Raheem Sterling and João Felix.

Chelsea is set to participate in the Club World Cup in the US, facing off against LAFC, Flamengo, and Espérance. However, coach Enzo Maresca has already made some tough calls, omitting four notable players from the squad. 

Raheem Sterling, who cost £50m, and João Félix, who cost £45m, are among those left behind. Both players had disappointing loan spells last season, with Sterling struggling at Arsenal and Felix underwhelming at AC Milan.

Defender Axel Disasi, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, is also not included in the squad.

The most surprising omission, however, is goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. Despite performing well on loan at Strasbourg and being expected to provide competition for the club’s current goalkeepers, Petrovic has been left out.

The reason behind these omissions is reportedly the club’s cited as the club’s desire for consistency, with a focus on players who will be part of the 2024/25 season.

The only exception is Andrey Santos, who has been added to the squad. Meanwhile, several clubs are reportedly interested in signing Petrovic permanently.