Xabi Alonso could be set to repeat a costly error involving Michael Olise's brother before officially taking charge at Chelsea. The Spaniard is due to begin his tenure at Stamford Bridge on July 1, having penned a four-year deal.
The former Liverpool star managed Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen before joining the Blues, giving him a wealth of experience in transfer decisions. But he may be making a significant blunder by allowing Richard Olise to depart when his contract expires.
The younger Olise brother spent a decade in the Chelsea academy without making a first-team appearance. He did earn a place on the bench during Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Astana in the Conference League in 2024/25, which entitled him to a winner's medal when the Blues lifted the trophy.
The 21-year-old will now move on as a free agent. While no clubs have been publicly linked with the defender as yet, by letting him walk out the door at such a tender age, Chelsea risk repeating the same mistake they made with Michael.
History Repeating Itself
The elder Olise sibling endured a similar experience back in 2014 when he was released by the Blues as a youngster after spending seven years in the academy without breaking through to the first team. The then-14-year-old moved to Manchester City's youth set-up before joining Reading, where he made his senior bow at 17 against Leeds United.
Chelsea would come to rue their decision to part ways with Olise, as he has grown into one of Europe's most coveted talents. The winger joined Crystal Palace in 2021 and began a meteoric rise.
The France international registered 41 goal contributions across 90 appearances for the Eagles before sealing a £50.8million switch to Bayern Munich. Olise is now a two-time German champion, having recently claimed Player of the Season honours.
He stands among the frontrunners for the Golden Ball at the World Cup. He has racked up 96 goal contributions in 107 outings for Bayern and also rejected the chance to return to Chelsea in 2023. Olise was presented with the opportunity to rejoin the Blues before his move to Germany, but they were unable to tempt the superstar winger back.
Richard's Potential
While Richard operates in a different position to his brother, featuring at either left or right-back, he may emulate his brother by carving out a stellar career after departing west London. Only time will tell whether he can match his sibling's career path but Alonso could be left regretting his error if he comes anywhere close to replicating the Bayern star's trajectory.
