Izuchukwu Okosi
Former African Footballer of The Year, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang on Friday evening became the biggest casualty of Chelsea’s mid-season shopping spree that saw the club spend in excess of £1 billion since the American owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club in May 2022.
The current holders of the FIFA Club World Cup released its UEFA Champions League team for the knockout campaign with the trio of record signing, Enzo Fernandez, and other newcomers Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix (on loan from Atletico Madrid) included in the 25-man squad submitted to UEFA.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to UEFA stipulations, only three new additions to the ‘A’ list of senior players are allowed, meaning the rest of Chelsea’s eight recruits missed out, including Anglo-Nigerian forward, Chinonso ‘Noni’ Madueke and Benoit Badiashile who were signed from PSV and AS Monaco.
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Aubameyang faces an uncertain future at the club now and could find a new club in the summer as the handwriting on the wall is one that is not positive.
Former Arsenal striker Aubameyang was signed by Chelsea from Barcelona and his omission was somewhat revealed by manager Graham Potter at his media conference on Thursday when he said there would be “a few awkward conversations” in his bloated squad.
Chelsea spent more than most top teams around Europe and that certainly aroused the curiosity of some rivals.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was astonished by the business conducted by Chelsea.
“I don’t understand this part of the business; what you can do, what you cannot do. However, it’s a big number in the last two windows.
” I don’t understand how it’s possible, but it’s not for me to explain how it works.”
Ob his part, Man City manager Pep Guardiola referenced the same attention his team got when they spent big on global superstars after they were bought by the Saudi state.
“It’s nine of my business (but) it’s a surprise because it’s not a ‘state club,” the Spaniard stated.
“What Chelsea do is not my business. I never involve in other clubs because there are regulations, rules, that we have to do.
” But we were accused. I don’t forget, eight or nine teams in the Premier League sent a letter to the Premier League (for us) to be banned. This happened to us.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
