Chelsea defender Axel Disasi has taken the extraordinary step of appearing for the club's under-21 squad as his exile from the first team continues under manager Enzo Maresca.
From First Team to Youth Setup
The French international, who joined Chelsea for £38.5 million from Monaco in 2023, has seen his fortunes at Stamford Bridge deteriorate dramatically. After making 44 appearances during his debut campaign, Disasi fell down the pecking order last season and was eventually sent on loan to Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
His return to West London this summer failed to yield a permanent move away from the club, leaving him in limbo as the new season began. The situation worsened significantly when Maresca excluded him from Chelsea's 25-man Premier League squad, effectively ending his prospects of first-team football at the club.
Captaining the Youth Team
In a desperate bid to maintain match fitness and attract potential suitors, Disasi recently captained Chelsea's under-21 side in their 4-1 victory over Reading. The appearance was strategically timed ahead of the January transfer window, giving clubs an opportunity to assess his condition and form.
This development comes after several potential moves collapsed during the summer transfer window. Switches to West Ham, Sunderland and Bournemouth all fell through in the final stages of negotiations, leaving the defender with limited options.
Maresca's Blunt Assessment
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca addressed Disasi's situation alongside fellow exile Raheem Sterling earlier this season, showing little sympathy for the defender's predicament. "I've been in Raheem's situation and Axel's situation as a player," Maresca stated. "I know that it's not the best feeling, because if you're a player it means you want to train and play."
However, the Italian manager put the professional footballer's experience into stark perspective by comparing it to his father's occupation. "My father is 75 years old, and for 50 years he has been a fisherman working from two o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock in the morning. This is a hard life. Not the way a player works."
The situation presents Chelsea with a significant financial dilemma, given that Disasi still has over four years remaining on his contract. With the January transfer window approaching, both club and player will be hoping his youth team appearances can generate the interest needed to facilitate a permanent departure.
