The Chelsea have a history of letting future stars of the game leave a little too early.
Eddie Nketiah is the latest former Chelsea star to dominate the back pages for his heroics in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Norwich in the Carabao Cup.
But the youngster is just one of a number of ex-Blues stars who have been deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, only to go on and suggest otherwise at another club.
Of course, it’s important not to get ahead of ourselves. While Nketiah had the game of his life for the Gunners on Tuesday, he is still only 18 and has some way to go before he is a regular at the Emirates.
That said, there are a number of former Blues stars who the club would love to have on their books now, so for a bit of fun, here is a Chelsea sold XI from 2014.
FW: Romelu Lukaku
Signed for/when: £20million in 2011
Sold for/when: £28million in 2014
Since leaving Chelsea for Everton the 24-year-old forward has proven himself a prolific Premier League goalscorer, and just missed out on the Golden Boot to Harry Kane last season.
Manchester United shelled out £75million to sign the Belgian striker at the start of this campaign, and so far he’s bagged seven times for the Red Devils.
The Blues had attempted to sign him back ahead of his move to Old Trafford, but Lukaku snubbed Chelsea to link up with Jose Mourinho instead.
FW: Juan Mata
Signed for/when: £23.5million in 2011
Sold for/when: £37million in 2014
A fans’ favourite while at Stamford Bridge, Mata won the Chelsea Player of the Year award in 2013.
But he fell out of favour under Jose Mourinho, who eventually sold him to title rivals Manchester United.
Today Mata plays under the Portuguese at Old Trafford.
FW: Mohamed Salah
Signed for/when: £11million in 2014
Sold for/when: £13million in 2016
All eyes were on Salah when he moved to Chelsea in 2014, coming with the nickname ‘the Egyptian Messi’, but it never happened for him.
Salah was eventually sent out on loan to Fiorentina and then Roma, before signing with the latter on a permanent deal.
Jurgen Klopp splashed out £34million to bring the forward to Liverpool at the start of this season, and so far he’s netted five times.
MID: Kevin De Bruyne
Signed for/when: £6.7million in 2012
Sold for/when: £18million in 2014
The one name that causes every Chelsea fan to flinch.
The Blues signed the Belgian for a lowly £6.7million back in 2012 but were seemingly unprepared to allow him the time to develop.
He was shipped out to the Bundesliga where he caught the eye before moving back to the Premier League with Manchester City in a deal worth £55million.
Today he’s arguably the best player in the English top flight.
MID: Nemanja Matic
Signed for/when: £21million in 2014
Sold for/when: £40million in 2017
A leggy and awkward midfielder who played a big part in Chelsea’s Premier League title win last season was shipped out to Man United at the start of the season.
Eyebrows were raised over Antonio Conte’s decision, especially when it became clear the positive impact he has had at Old Trafford.
The Blues replaced Matic with French youngster Tiemoue Bakayoko.
The Brazilian enjoyed six successful seasons at Chelsea, winning the Champions League, Players’ Player of the Year and Goal of the Year during this time.
With his career at Stamford Bridge winding down, he switched to the Chinese Super League, where he today plays under Fabio Capello.
The move was a good one for all parties involved, with Chelsea recouping good money for the tenacious midfielder.
DEF: Filipe Luis
Signed for/when: £16million in 2014
Sold for/when: £16million in 2015
Jose Mourinho splashed out on the left-back during his second spell in charge of Chelsea in 2014, but Luis struggled for game time at Stamford Bridge.
He was mooted as a replacement for Ashley Cole, and even took his number 3 shirt, but couldn’t get in the team over Cesar Azpilicueta.
After one season in London the Brazilian moved back to Atletico Madrid and Chelsea recouped all the cash they’d spent on him.
DEF: Nathan Ake
Signed for/when: £300,000 in 2011
Sold for/when: £20million in 2017
Chelsea poached the youngster from Feyenoord in 2007 for a £300,000 compensation fee and helped him develop at Cobham.
From 2015 to 2017 he spent his time out on loan at Reading, Watford and Bournemouth, where he really started to impress.
So much so that Conte recalled him from his loan spell on the south coast last season, with plans to start him in the first team.
But it wasn’t to be for the Dutchman, and Bournemouth came back with £20million to sign him on a permanent deal.
Chelsea certainly got the best out of Terry. Unlike the above forwards who were been signed and sold on flippantly, the Blues have been a little more careful with defenders.
David Luiz is one example of a player in this position who left a little too prematurely, but Chelsea rectified their error by buying him back.
Anyway, back to Terry. The former England captain won it all with the Stamford Bridge club, but saw his game time reduced last season.
He transferred to Aston Villa at the start of this campaign, where he is performing well in the Championship, despite his declining years.
DEF: Branislav Ivanovic
Signed for/when: £9million in 2008
Sold for/when: Free transfer in 2017
Another player who enjoyed his best years at Chelsea, but another player who still has a lot to offer the game.
After a quiet first year Ivanovic burst onto the scene in 2009, bagging two headed goals in a Champions League quarter final against Liverpool.
From there he became a regular Blues right-back, continually performing well in defence and grabbing goals when necessary.
He left the club at the start of the season for Zenit St Petersburg after losing his place in the team to the more industrious Victor Moses.
GK: Petr Cech
Signed for/when: £7million in 2004
Sold for/when: £10million in 2015
And finally, one last player who enjoyed his best years at Chelsea.
Cech was sold to Arsenal for £10million in 2015, as Thibaut Courtois took the baton from the Blues legend.
Eyebrows were raised in the same way they were when Matic moved to Manchester United, but Courtois has proven himself a brilliant replacement.
Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu celebrates scoring during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, cementing his status as one of the world’s top players.
Osimhen surpassed competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah for the prestigious award.
The Super Eagles forward concluded a remarkable year in the imperial Moroccan city of Marakesh, ending Nigeria’s 24-year wait for Africa’s top individual prize, last won by legendary Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.
During the event, Osimhen expressed gratitude, acknowledging the impact of Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached him at the U-17 level, and the support from fans and fellow players.
“It’s a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who has seen me through life’s journey, in achieving my dreams and goals. I appreciate Nigerians and Africa for their unwavering support and encouragement,” he said.
Osimhen recognised the influence of Emmanuel Adebayo, Solomon Kalu, and other African legends, expressing gratitude to his role model, Didier Drogba.
The award reflects Osimhen’s outstanding performances with Napoli, where he played a pivotal role in their Serie A title run, scoring 26 league goals and becoming the first African to win the top scorer award, breaking George Weah’s record in the Italian top-flight.”
Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine football icon, clinched the coveted 2023 Ballon d’Or, setting a new record for the 2022 World Cup champion.
In a glamorous event held in Paris, Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, received the prestigious award on Monday night. This achievement is widely seen as a well-deserved recognition for his pivotal role in guiding the Abiscelete to World Cup victory in the previous year.
Aged 36, Messi succeeded Karim Benzema as the recipient of this award, which acknowledges his exceptional performances during the last season when he inspired Argentina to triumph at the World Cup.
His remarkable displays in Qatar, where he led his nation to a historic victory, enabled him to surpass strong competition, notably from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Haaland secured the second spot in the final voting, with Mbappe finishing third and Kevin De Bruyne taking fourth place.
Messi, a former Barcelona superstar, left an indelible mark at the World Cup, scoring seven crucial goals. His exceptional performance led to him being named the tournament’s best player, especially after Argentina’s victory over France in the final.
While Messi’s World Cup heroics were undeniable, his final season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was relatively lackluster. Subsequently, he made a move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
His former PSG teammate, Mbappe, made a strong case for the Ballon d’Or with his outstanding World Cup performance, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including a memorable hat-trick in the final for France.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland had a remarkable season, scoring an incredible 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City. This stellar performance played a pivotal role in helping Pep Guardiola’s team secure a historic treble in the English Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Both Haaland and De Bruyne were nominated for the Ballon d’Or from their exceptional contributions to the success of Manchester City.