Axel Disasi nightmare at Chelsea has taken another dimension as the French defender had to play for the club’s under-21 side. Chelsea bought Disasi for £38.5 million from Monaco in 2023, but his life at Stamford Bridge declined after he slipped out of Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans.
After being excluded from Chelsea’s Premier League squad, the centre-back is now playing in the youth matches to keep his fitness level up and to be attractive to a potential club in January.
From Premier League Starter to Development Squad Captain
Axel Disasi, who played 44 matches as a typical starter in his debut season, now trains only with academy players. The 26-year-old took the under-21 team to a 4-1 victory over Reading, making an impression on the club that would buy him of his abilities.
After West Ham, Sunderland, and Bournemouth failed to arrange a transfer for him last summer, he remains at Chelsea. The return from a loan at Aston Villa, however, has not been able to convince the manager to change his mind about him. The defender’s morale has visibly dropped, yet he keeps pushing forward.
Maresca’s Response and Club’s Stance
Maresca recognized Disasi’s disappointment, but he emphasized that chances are always conditional on performance and the need for balance in the team. The Italian coach used the player’s situation as an example of life challenges, saying that football is still a privilege.
Disasi still holds a contract for another four years with the club but maybe a January move will be the way to bring back his career.
Author’s Opinion
The story of how Disasi lost the manager’s trust is a good example of the squad changes at Chelsea which are not very kind. A departure at this moment would be good for his confidence and career would get back on track again.
As featured on Chelseanews.com