Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that England defender Ben Chilwell was close to leaving the club this summer, but a move failed to materialize.
Chilwell had been banished from first-team training by Maresca as part of an effort to facilitate his departure, but he has since been reintegrated into the squad.
Speaking to the media, Maresca explained the situation: “Ben Chilwell is one of the guys who was ready to leave, but he’s here and he’s training with us. He’s training well. He’s our player.”
Despite his return to training, Chilwell’s future in the squad remains uncertain. Maresca hinted that Chilwell may not feature regularly, stating, “Game after game we are going to consider in case we are going to use him.”
Chilwell, who had been linked with several clubs during the transfer window, is unlikely to be part of the Chelsea squad for their upcoming Premier League clash against West Ham on Saturday.
The left-back’s omission raises further questions about his role under Maresca, despite his return to full training.