Enzo Maresca criticises PSR, blaming it as Chelsea prepare for exodus of academy players like Conor Gallagher who is set to depart.
Enzo Maresca has pointed out that the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) are responsible for Chelsea selling academy players like Conor Gallagher, rather than the club itself.
Since Todd Boehly took over at Chelsea in May 2022, the likes of Lewis Hall, Billy Gilmour, Mason Mount, Ian Maatsen, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, have left the club.
Gallagher is expected to leave with negotiations continuing over the midfielder’s transfer to Atletico Madrid for a fee in the region of £35m.
Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah are another two reportedly leaving.
These departures have led to criticism from fans, and discussing the sale of academy players, with more expected, Maresca emphasised that it’s not just a Chelsea problem but a broader issue across Premier League clubs.
He expressed a desire to see more one-club players but acknowledged that the rules often lead to player sales.
As negotiations continue for Gallagher’s transfer to Atletico Madrid, Chelsea is assessing potential replacements with one option being Matt O’Riley at Celtic,
“It’s not a Chelsea problem, it’s all the Premier League clubs’ problem” 💰
Enzo Maresca criticises PSR 😮pic.twitter.com/QJPpBJWQaX
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 6, 2024
“All of them, they need to work” 🔵
Enzo Maresca says that Chelsea players will need to convince him that “they need to play” 👇 pic.twitter.com/OpLpBZrNX6
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 6, 2024
On the subject of selling academy players, Maresca said: “This is not Chelsea’s problem. This is the rules problem.
“The clubs are compelled to sell players because of the rules. It’s not a Chelsea problem, it is a Premier League problem. The intention from Chelsea is not to sell – but the rules in the end make us. I love that [Franceso] Totti was at Roma for 20 years and a one-club man.
“I love that, we all love that. It’s the rules. My personal opinion is it’s a shame because we all like to see a one-club man. If we want to promote academy players – yes, change the rule.”
A medical is expected with Atletico, Gallagher will sign a five-year contract. The Blues did accept a larger bid from Aston Villa for Gallagher earlier this summer, but he decided turned down a move to Villa Park and stay at Stamford Bridge.
On Gallagher’s future, Maresca said: “What I know is Conor and the club are talking about a decision….hopefully, the final decision will be something good for Conor and the club.
“No one is a starter. They have to work day by day and convince me they have to play. I am convinced everyone is a squad player. I think it’s wrong to say Conor, or Enzo [Fernandez], or Moi [Caicedo], is a starter. It’s disrespectful to the other players. They are all squad players.”
Sky Sports News‘ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol: “Conor Gallagher’s Chelsea career was effectively over after he was told last week he would be a squad player if he stayed because of the new style of play.
“Atletico Madrid offered him the long contract he wanted and Champions League football. They gave him until the end of the weekend to decide if he wanted to move there and Chelsea made it clear it would be the right move for him if he wanted a long-term deal.
“Chelsea did not want him to run down his contract and leave on a free next summer. They did not want a repeat and distraction of the Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen situations.
“Gallagher was due to train at Cobham on Monday if he had turned down the move to Spain. Chelsea’s first team squad are in the US until Wednesday.
“Gallagher’s departure will be controversial because he has been at the club since he was eight and he has established himself as a key player and fan favourite. Former head coach Mauricio Pochettino made him captain last season.
“Many Chelsea supporters wanted Gallagher to be offered a long-term contract but the latest club offers were for a two-year deal plus the option of another year.
“The latest 2+1 offer was rejected last week. Chelsea did not offer a longer deal because they were concerned that he would be a squad player in the new high-possession style they are committed to playing under new head coach Enzo Maresca.
“It could also have had financial PSR implications for Chelsea so it was felt that it would have been a mistake for both parties to commit to a longer teem deal.
“Chelsea respected the fact that he is an England international who needs to be a regular starter. A longer contract could have tied him up as a squad player and jeopardised his place in future England squads.
“He turned down extension offers because he wanted a longer contract similar to the ones which have been signed by his teammates.
“The salary Chelsea offered him was comparable to the highest earners in their midfield and is believed to have been comparable to other salary offers he had received.
“Gallagher also turned down interest in a contract extension in the autumn of 2022 because he wanted to be a regular starter and not a squad player. He became a regular starter last season.”
This is what fans are saying as Enzo Maresca criticises PSR, blaming it as Chelsea prepare for another exodus of academy players…
@chriswrightzz: It probably doesn’t help that Chelsea keep over spending on young players based on ‘potential’. That’s a solution to the problem. Buying 3 goalkeepers in 12 months doesn’t help either.
@Chandl3r6: Absolute nonsense. If he or Chelsea rated Gallagher that keep him & not waste money on other average big money signings. They don’t HAVE to sell Gallagher.
@andyh1884: Nah mate, it’s cos lots of clubs aren’t run on a sustainable basis cos they spend far more than they should on wages and transfers and so have to sell assets to fund their frivolous spending. It’s really not that difficult to understand. Chelsea have spent £1bn on transfer fees
@TikiTokaMate: He isnt wrong, there is an added incentive to selling academy players book wise. Smith Rowe & Nketiah, selling an Anderson over an Almiron etc, it likely played a big part for City in us getting Palmer. The choices of sales or who we buy is a different issue.
@g2mcc: While he isn’t entirely wrong, it’s fair to say Chelsea are a disease on the game. They actively exploit PSR, not suffer from it.
@TimBolton1981: Maresca crying about PSR when Chelsea have spent over £1bn in 18 months and are handing out 8 year contracts. 🙄
@OldseaStanley: He’s not wrong. If it wasn’t for the PSR rules which encourage the selling of homegrown academy talent as “pure profit”, Chelsea would be selling Mudryk instead of Conor Gallagher #CFC #Chelsea
@robinacoles: Nonsense, no club is compelled to sell youth players, to compensate for spending £1.2bn on players
@Bill_J_Donahue: It’s a Stewart and Winstanley problem as they continue to waste hundreds of millions on managers and mid level players. They have to sell academy players as most of their transfers have declined in value.
@XpectedChaos: It’s a Chelsea problem because this ownership and their sporting directors keep going on ill-advised spending sprees, putting the club in a precarious financial position. Selling academy players is tragic bandaid solution to the real issue.
@SP_CHELS_: Stop fucking buying players that don’t improve us then
@sirdomL: Chelsea have 42 first team squad players, with 8 goalkeepers. Who exactly made them buy all those players, on 8+ year contracts? The problem is that Chelsea cares more about their accountancy than the reality of their individual players
@RobOsborne19:
No
Spend wisely and then you don’t have to sell
PSR isn’t fit for purpose but don’t use it as an excuse
@Bush6386: No it’s Chelsea problem because we have bout 45 teenagers for about £900m which we didn’t need to do so yes it’s Chelsea fault not the rules
@scott_trotter: I realise that he’s never likely to say anything else but while they are the rules, it is still a choice to operate this way. Particularly given the scale of spending. #cfc
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