Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca shuts down Christopher Nkunku exit rumors amidst links to PSG and Barcelona
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca brushed aside rumors linking Christopher Nkunku with a move out of the club, with PSG and Barcelona links emerging.
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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca brushed aside rumors linking Christopher Nkunku with a move out of the club. (via YouTube)
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca dismissed Christopher Nkunku exit rumors, ensuring that he still has a future at Stamford Bridge. The 27-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move out of the club, to PSG and Barcelona due to his growing frustration.
Christopher Nkunku has failed to secure a place in the Blues starting XI, since Enzo Maresca’s arrival. He had missed the majority of last season due to a knee injury. This season too, the Frenchman has played just second fiddle behind striker Nicolas Jackson, making just 11 starts. Despite the limited playing opportunities, Nkunku has scored 12 goals, making him the Blues’ highest goal-scorer. However, the 27-year-old has grown frustrated with his role, and is being linked with a move out of the club.
With Barcelona and PSG rumors looming, manager Enzo Maresca made it clear that he wants the attacking midfielder to remain at Chelsea. However, he exclaimed that he would not interfere in the way of any player, who is unhappy at the club and wishes to leave.
Maresca added that he is not thinking about departures at the moment, and reiterated his focus on winning matches. He has previously suggested that a few players could leave the club, if they aren’t happy with the opportunities being provided to them.
We like Christo [Nkunku] and we want him here and there will always be players that are not happy. I am not sure if that will be Christo’s case. We want to keep him here because we are happy with him.
Enzo Maresca on Christopher Nkunku exit rumors (H/T TalkSport)
🚨 Maresca on Nkunku’s future: “We like Christo and we want him here”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 26, 2024
“There will always be players that are not happy and some that will ask to leave in January. I am not sure if that will be Christo’s or another player’s case. We want to keep them here”. pic.twitter.com/s5SjKQsztz
It remains to be seen what lies ahead of Christopher Nkunku, who remains a pivotal player at Stamford Bridge. Apart from the talented Frenchman, several other players are being linked with a move out of the club. This includes right-back Ben Chilwell, youngsters Carney Chukwuemeka and Marc Guiu.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca calls for Cole Palmer to improve ‘things’, despite Englishman’s impressive form
Enzo Maresca recently admitted that Chelsea youngster Cole Palmer could be dropped from the starting XI, while urging him to improve upon certain things. These comments come despite the 22-year-old playing a crucial role for the Blues, helping them remain 2nd on the EPL table.
Palmer has recorded 17 goal-contributions in just 19 appearances this season, and has been a revelation since joining Manchester City a year ago. Despite his brilliance, manager Enzo Maresca exclaimed that the midfielder has to do more, when he is being marked by defenders. He also added that Palmer would not always start every match for Chelsea, as he decides the lineup on a game-by-game basis.
He still has to improve things in those moments… For sure, game after game, he’s going to understand more about when they mark him man-to-man, how to move.
Enzo Maresca on Cole Palmer (H/T Mail Sport)
Meanwhile, Cole Palmer has gone two matches without a goal, and will be looking to bounce back during Chelsea’s upcoming EPL encounters against Fulham and Ipswich Town. The talented Englishman most recently broke a PL record for the most consecutive successful penalties.
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Siddhartha Roy
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