New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has made a decisive move by demoting goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from the first squad to the reserve team as he prepares his young players for a preseason trip to the United States.
Reports from Chelsea247 indicate that Kepa was recently seen training with the Chelsea reserves before being reassigned to the main team for practice.
A source close to the situation confirmed to Chelsea247 that the Spanish goalkeeper is currently training with the development squad. “Kepa is now training with the development squad rather than the main team,” the source said.
Kepa Arrizabalaga’s tenure at Chelsea has been tumultuous since his high-profile signing. The Blues paid an enormous £71 million for the Spaniard, making him the most expensive goalkeeper in history at the time.
However, his performance has not lived up to the hefty price tag, and he has struggled to secure a permanent spot in the starting lineup.
The 28-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge looks bleak. Reports suggest that Kepa has no intention of continuing with Chelsea and would prefer a permanent move to Real Madrid, given the Spanish club’s successful previous season. His desire to leave Chelsea is evident as he sees little chance of regaining his place in the team’s plans under Maresca.
In the meantime, Maresca appears to be setting his sights on a new starting goalkeeper. According to sources, Robert Sanchez is expected to start against Manchester City in the opening match of the season.
This decision puts Sanchez ahead of Djorjde Petrovic, who had a solid debut season in the Premier League. Despite Petrovic’s commendable performances, Sanchez is now favored to take the starting position.
The decision to demote Kepa and potentially favor Sanchez over Petrovic indicates a shift in strategy for Chelsea under Maresca.
The new manager seems intent on rejuvenating the squad and possibly moving away from the high-profile, big-money signings that have characterized Chelsea’s approach in recent years. Instead, there is a focus on integrating young talent and making strategic changes to the first team.
Kepa’s relegation to the development squad is a clear signal of Maresca’s intent to shake things up and possibly build a more cohesive and reliable team. The move may also reflect a broader assessment of Kepa’s fit within the team’s future plans and his ability to deliver consistent performances.
As Chelsea gears up for the new season, Maresca’s decisions will be closely scrutinized. The preseason tour in the United States will be a crucial period for the manager to assess his squad and make final decisions on player roles. For Kepa, the demotion to the reserves could either be a wake-up call or the beginning of the end of hiscareer at Chelsea.
