Key Chelsea star asked to be left out of Club World Cup to secure move

Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic opted to exclude himself from the Club World Cup to focus on securing his future.

The Serbian shot-stopper, who impressed during his loan spell at Strasbourg last season, has returned to Chelsea but is seeking guaranteed first-team opportunities—something the club cannot currently offer him.

Reports indicate that Petrovic requested to be left out of Enzo Maresca’s squad for the tournament, a decision that Chelsea’s management has respected, maintaining a positive relationship with the player.

Both parties agreed that rather than traveling to the United States, Petrovic would be better off exploring potential moves elsewhere.

If he does not secure a permanent transfer that meets his expectations, he is expected to rejoin Chelsea for pre-season training in July.

Strasbourg has shown interest in signing him permanently, while several Premier League clubs, including West Ham, and other European teams are also monitoring his situation.

Chelsea had initially planned to include Petrovic in their Club World Cup squad, despite their unsuccessful bid to sign AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.

The Blues’ offer for Maignan was rejected, as Milan demanded nearly double the proposed fee, despite the French goalkeeper having only one year left on his contract and refusing to extend.

Chelsea may revisit their pursuit of Maignan when the transfer window reopens, but Maresca remains confident in his current goalkeeping options—Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, and Mike Penders—which contributed to Petrovic’s uncertain role in the squad.

Among Chelsea’s loanees, Andrey Santos is the only one included in the Club World Cup squad, while Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, and Axel Disasi have been left out.

Meanwhile, new signings Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, and Mamadou Sarr will be part of the traveling squad to the U.S.