Football News: Chelsea Head Coach Enzo Maresca Demands Rule Change Amid Conor Gallagher’s Imminent Atletico Madrid Move
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed his “personal opinion” on Conor Gallagher’s imminent move to Atletico Madrid, as he calls for a “rule change” in the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Gallagher, the England international, was a key player for Chelsea last season under Mauricio Pochettino. However, with Maresca implementing a new style of play, the midfielder was expected to drop down the pecking order in the 2024/25 campaign.
“The intention from Chelsea is not to sell – but the rules in the end make us,” Maresca said. “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.”
Entering the final year of his contract, Chelsea were always likely to cash in on Gallagher this summer if they could not agree a new deal with their academy product. Despite interest from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, Gallagher has turned down a couple of fresh contract offers from the Blues, who were only willing to give him a two-year contract extension with an option of an additional year.
La Liga giants Atletico Madrid have now moved to the front of the queue, with Chelsea accepting a £33m bid for the 23-year-old. Gallagher was given until the end of last week to decide on the move to Spain, and it has now emerged that he has ‘said yes’ to joining the club.
This imminent deal has angered Chelsea supporters, with Maresca stating that the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules “compel clubs to sell players.” The head coach believes this is a “Premier League problem” and not a “Chelsea problem,” as he demands a rule change to promote academy players and retain one-club men.
Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solehkol has revealed that Gallagher’s “Chelsea career was effectively over” after he was told last week that he would be a squad player if he stayed due to the new tactical approach.
With Atletico Madrid offering the long-term contract Gallagher desired, as well as Champions League football, Chelsea decided to cash in on the midfielder to avoid a repeat of the Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen situations, where players left on free transfers.
As the transfer window continues to unfold, this move highlights the challenges faced by Premier League clubs in balancing their financial obligations and retaining homegrown talents. The Football News community will be closely monitoring the ongoing discussion around the Profit and Sustainability rules and their impact on the sport.
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