Chelsea player 'keen' to join European giants after 'direct contact' and honest Enzo Maresca verdict
Chelsea could be about to sell a player who has been frustrated with his lack of game time.
One Chelsea player is said to be keen on a move away from the club as he looks to secure more regular game time. The Blues are in the midst of a big summer transfer window, already snapping up Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
Enzo Maresca is being handed new weapons aplenty as Chelsea look to become Premier League title contenders, and more new signings are likely to arrive between now and the start of the new season.
Chelsea need another centre-back, while they also need another winger after the departure of Noni Madueke. There is also speculation surrounding Nicolas Jackson’s future, and a departure there could force the Blues back into the market for a striker.
Other departures could also take place, and there is now interest in Renato Veiga, according to Fabrizio Romano. He posted on X: “Atlético Madrid have now made direct contact with Renato Veiga’s camp… and the player is keen on the move! Chelsea insist on package worth at least €40m to sell Veiga while Atléti are prepared to advance in negotiations.”
Veiga has had to be very patient at Chelsea, only making seven league appearances for the club so far, and he joined Juventus on a loan deal for the second half of next season having struggled for game time. The versatile defender made 13 league appearances for Juventus, and his performances appear to have been enough to attract interest from another top club in Atletico. The deal seems like a logical one for Chelsea as they look to balance their spending while trying not to lose important players.
What Maresca has said about Veiga
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was asked about Veiga’s lack of game time last season. He said: “We bought Renato from Basel, he arrived here, has played in different positions, played well, and this allowed him to join the national team for the first time in his life, the senior national team.
“Probably if he is not playing in his position, and also in the international team not playing in his position, it means he can do well, and we are very proud of all of our players who join their international teams but especially in this case, a young player who joins Chelsea, starts to play different positions, four or five different positions, that gives him the chance to join the national team so we are very proud about that.
“I had a chat with Renato and I said exactly the same thing I just say to you in terms of playing in the position he is playing with us gave him the chance to join the international team and also probably gave him the chance to get speculation around him so that means clubs are probably looking at him.
“Clubs are looking for players that are doing well, not that are doing bad. Players that are doing well with the club, with the international team, and as I said, for me, if there is a player who just wants to play in one position, they’re going to struggle. They have to adapt. They have to play in different positions, they have to learn to play in different positions, because it’s a good thing for the team and for the club.”
He added when pressed on Veiga’s lack of minutes: “I said many times, I also want long hair, but we also have more than 20 players, 25 players, and they all want to play but it’s not possible.”
Your next Chelsea read, Chelsea enter 'talks' over £52m star as Romano issues Jackson update