More Than The Score - Should football clubs stop freezing out unwanted players?

Download Should football clubs stop freezing out unwanted players?

It's become known as the football "bomb squad." When a player or group of players aren't wanted anymore, their clubs stop them from training with the first team squad and make them work with the youth team or in extreme cases, on their own.

Raheem Sterling is part of a group working separately to the Chelsea first team. Manchester United had Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, and Marcus Rashford all exiled before they secured moves away. They're not the only clubs who freeze out players they no longer want but how damaging is it for the players involved?

Former Manchester City and Real Salt Lake defender Nedum Onuoha tells John Bennett that being frozen out at City was the toughest period of his career and more consideration should be given to how it may affects players' mental health. We also hear from former Fortuna Dusseldorf and St Louis City Sporting Director, Lutz Pfannenstiel. He says he'd never separate a player completely from the first team squad without reason but accepts it can be a difficult situation for everyone involved.

Published on Wednesday, 22nd October 2025.

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