Former Chelsea captain, Conor Gallagher, has officially left the club following his £34m transfer to Atletico Madrid. The Englishman becomes the 4th English player to sign for the Spanish giants. The Cobham graduate was forced to leave his childhood club, and he did not even feature in the preseason.
The 24-year old made 95 appearances for his boyhood club. He has now signed a 5-year deal with the Spanish club, hoping to revive his career there. He had a decent season last year as he scored 7 goals and provided 9 assists for the Blues. The Cobham grad was defensively very efficient and had more interceptions and tackles than anyone in the Blues’ squad.
This transfer was on the verge of breaking down, but Chelsea signing Joao Felix from Atletico made it possible. Diego Simeone admires Gallagher and felt that he could become a major asset for his squad. Atletico Madrid have been the headline makers of this transfer window as they also snatched Julian Alvarez from Manchester City.
The Spanish club have also added the likes of Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth. They are keen to compete with their major rivals, Real Madrid and Barcelona, for the league title this season.
Conor Gallagher sends emotional farewell message to Chelsea fans
Conor Gallagher is leaving his childhood club after a span of 18 years. The player came through the youth ranks at Cobham. The player also had the opportunity to captain the club last season.
Now he is joining Atleti, hoping to revive his topsy turvy career. He believes in Simeone’s project and feels that he will be able to help his side win trophies. The Spanish giants will be keen on improving this season after they finished fourth last season.
The Englishman is also helping Chelsea free up his massive wages to be able to sign new players. The club has signed many young players with huge contracts which is now creating a ruckus inside the dressing room.
Conor Gallagher penned an emotional farewell message to the club and all the Chelsea fans on Instagram. He says;
“To everyone at Chelsea, thank you for making my dreams come true. It’s been an absolute honour every time I put on the shirt, and it was a dream come true to captain the team on many occasions. I loved every moment. These memories will last forever. I appreciate all the love and support from the fans. Hearing the chant of my name at the Bridge is a special feeling, and the banner you displayed meant the world to me. Thank you for everything. I wish the club all the best for the future, and I hope to see you all soon at Stamford Bridge!”
Gallagher’s future at Chelsea is the one of biggest transfer sagas of this summer transfer window. Many fans and club legends including John Terry, were a big fan of him and did not want him to leave.
Did the Blues make a huge mistake by selling Gallagher?
Lots of Chelsea fans and football pundits have questioned the club’s transfer model. The finest Cobham graduates are being sold off for profits which is disheartening to see for the club supporters. Blues legend John Terry expressed his disappointment on social media. He said;
“Gutted to see you go mate. Good luck Conor Gallagher.”
The 24-year old becomes the latest Cobham graduate to be sold by Todd Boehly and co. Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson, Mason Mount, Billy Gilmour, Armando Broja, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have also been sold for making profits. The club is also keen on selling Trevoh Chalobah this season.
Gallagher, defensively, is far better than the midfielders Chelsea have now. This deal is simply being made to satisfy the owners needs and not the club’s. The Englishman was one of the most consistent players last season, and therefore his sale is boiling the blood of the club’s fans. The supporters at Stamford Bridge loved him and sang chants of him. They also made a huge tifo to express their love and support for him.
Diego Simeone on the other hand, feels that Gallagher is the player he needs, who help will add more intensity to his team. He is a hard worker on and off the pitch, which is exactly what the Argentine manager desires.
Chelsea have not won a major trophy since the takeover and the fans fear that the club is heading towards the wrong direction. The dressing room is a circus and the performance on the field is not helping their cause as well. However new boss Enzo Maresca has asked the supporters to trust the process and have faith. The Italian manager has promised that results will come their way eventually.
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