England defender Trevoh Chalobah has admitted he is still trying to recover the costs of a holiday he was forced to abandon after receiving a late call-up to the World Cup squad. The Chelsea star had been enjoying a break in New York and had planned to travel to Los Angeles when he was summoned by manager Thomas Tuchel to replace injured Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento.
From Holiday to World Cup Duty
Chalobah, 25, had been on a shortlist of 55 players for the tournament but was not initially selected in the final 26-man squad. However, when Livramento suffered an injury that ended his summer, Chalobah got the call. At the time, he was in New York, unaware that his holiday was about to be cut short.
“I wouldn’t say [I was] ready, but I was on holiday in New York already, just planning my holiday and not thinking about the World Cup,” Chalobah told reporters. “I just got the text on the Monday, I was surprised and I was ready to go. When we got the news at the end of the season whether we were selected or not, he said ‘you’re close’. I was disappointed that I didn’t make it but he did say ‘stay ready’. So I managed to have a few sessions here and there but really it was about enjoying my holiday.”
Missed Call in Times Square
Chalobah was so engrossed in his holiday that he initially missed Tuchel's call. The defender was wandering around Times Square when the England boss tried to reach him, leaving Tuchel waiting for two hours. “I was literally in Times Square. I went to the shops to get something. It was when I got back to my hotel I saw Thomas had texted, but it was two hours before,” Chalobah said. “I didn’t see the message for two hours. I wasn’t on my phone, I was just walking around the city. Got back to the hotel, looked at my phone and he had asked if I could call him. My heart just dropped.”
Financial Impact and Squad Integration
The sudden change of plans meant Chalobah had to cancel his planned trip to Los Angeles. “I flew up to New York and was meant to go to Los Angeles after that but obviously had to cut it short when I got the message on Monday. I am still trying to get my money back,” he revealed. Despite the financial setback, Chalobah has quickly settled into the England camp and is focused on contributing to the team's World Cup campaign. The defender joins a squad aiming to go all the way in the tournament, with England fans hoping for a strong performance.
