Raheem Sterling ‘rejected eye-watering Saudi Arabia transfer offer’ last summer to remain at Chelsea… as it emerges owner Todd Boehly singled him out for dressing room pep talk
- Sterling, 29, earns £300,000 a week and is Chelsea’s highest-paid player
- The Saudi offer reportedly overshadowed that, but he stayed with Blues
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Raheem Sterling reportedly turned down a staggering offer from Saudi Arabia to stay at Chelsea last summer.
The 29-year-old England winger could have become one of the three highest earners in the Pro League after Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sterling is Chelsea’s biggest earner, reportedly earning £300,000 a week at Stamford Bridge.
According to Forbes, Ronaldo earns £214 million a year at Al-Nassr, with £163 million for actual playing and £49 million for off-field activities such as promoting the country.
The Daily Telegraph Report That Sterling offer from Saudi Arabia came at the end of last season, but he had no interest in leaving Chelsea.
Raheem Sterling has reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to leave Chelsea and move to Saudi Arabia
The proposed deal would reportedly put Sterling in the top tier of Saudi earners, behind Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
Sterling signed a five-year contract when he joined Chelsea from Manchester City in July 2022 on a £47.5 million contract.
In a turbulent first season, which saw managers Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter sacked by owner Todd Boehly, Sterling scored nine goals and contributed four assists.
This season, the winger has already provided seven goals and eight assists, but that hasn’t stopped him from being jeered by some Chelsea fans.
The same Telegraph article revealed that Boehly had reportedly singled out Sterling for a dressing down after the Blues’ 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton last April.
Brighton came from behind to win at Stamford Bridge – one of many low points as Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League – and the American came to visit the players in the dressing room after the match.
Boehly apparently gave Sterling a personal pep talk, instead of addressing the entire team. He reminded Sterling that he is a world-class player and demanded more in terms of performance and leadership.
Todd Boehly reportedly singled out Raheem Sterling for a dressing down last season
The tirade against Sterling came after Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton last April
Sterling was closest to the dressing room door, which could explain why he was addressed first, but it could also have been interpreted as an important statement from Boehly, as the England winger was his first major signing after leaving the club purchased.
It is believed that Sterling took the criticism well, after which Boehly turned his attention to the rest of the group.