The January transfer window remains a soap opera for Chelsea, with Axel Disasi appearing to take the stage as the latest player looking for the exit door. The French defender hasn’t been the defensive messiah Chelsea was looking for, with the Blues paying a hefty £39m to bring him to Stamford Bridge in 2023. Instead, he’s been a glam plot twist in a bad sitcom. In the midst of being shoehorned into a makeshift right back at Stamford Bridge, Disasi’s time there feels more ‘Trial by Fire’ than ‘Trial by Talent.’
That brings us to the question, what went wrong, and is Juventus the fresh start Disasi needs?
Axel Disasi’s Rocky Road at Chelsea
Truth be told, that is the elephant metastasizing, or elephant (to be precise), in the room—after all, it’s the right back! Disasi has found it hard to settle since arriving at Chelsea. He’s played just five Premier League games and is in a position that doesn’t suit his strengths. His last league start, a 2-0 loss to Ipswich, felt like an audition that had not gone well at all. His full 90-minute display in the FA Cup victory over Morecambe was a glimmer of hope, but it was too little too late.
Injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile have not opened a door for Disasi. It is like bringing an umbrella in a drought; it’s helpful, in theory, but in reality, useless. Reports now suggest he’s already in talks with the club to pack his bags, leaving fans scratching their heads: Just to bench him, why spend £39 million on a player?
Juventus: A New Chapter for Axel Disasi or Another Gamble?
But who has a clean samurai in their arsenal now? Enter Juventus, the Italian knights in (or on) shining armor—or at least dented. Disasi is reportedly the target for a Serie A side, with a loan deal plus a buy obligation, according to reports. For them, he’s a ‘wildcard,’ a man who can fill their defensive holes. We can only hope “wildcard” doesn’t equal “we’ll see what happens.”
But it’s not all sunshine and spaghetti. Disasi will need to adapt quickly to Juventus’ system, which isn’t a walk in the park. At least he won’t play right back anymore, but hey. We think.
Mikel’s Mic Drop: Critiquing Maresca
Chelsea legend John Obi-Mikel wasn’t holding back on the use of Disasi. And on his podcast, he joked: ‘Why is Disasi playing right back when you have three right-backs on the bench?’ Is Maresca playing a social game?” He didn’t say the last bit, but you kind of got the picture.
Fans echo Mikel’s sentiments. Social media is buzzing with frustration, with one user hilariously summing it up: “We paid £39M to watch him sit in the pharmacy of the right flank.” Genius!”
The Great Stamford Bridge Exodus
He’s not the only one trying to flee to greener pastures. The “Get Me Out of Here” club is reportedly seeing him joined by Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei, Renato Veiga, and Ben Chilwell. Squad reshuffles happen; losing five players in one window feels less like planning and more like panic.
My Two Cents on the Axel Disasi Debacle
If you are a football fan (i.e., an amateur beach chair coach), then I can’t help but wonder if Chelsea’s management is now reality television. Disasi’s story reflects a broader issue: expensive signings without any sort of long-term plan. It wouldn’t hurt to wait and let him adjust, right? Football isn’t instant coffee; it’s patience that brews a winning team. If Juventus does land him, Chelsea fans may find themselves asking, “What if?”
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