Chelsea manager Antonio Conte insists he has not been reading the transfer speculation surrounding defender David Luiz. The Brazilian, who played a key role in Chelsea’s charge to the Premier League title last season has not featured for the Blues since the 4-0 Champions League win away to Qarabag on November 22.
It is believed Luiz and Conte were involved in an altercation following Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat away against Roma in the Champions League in October. The centre-back hasn’t featured in the league since then, with Andreas Christensen lining up in the heart of the team’s defensive three. Luiz is reportedly recovering from a knee injury.
Conte also raised many eyebrows when he dropped the Brazil international in favour of Christensen in the 1-0 win over Manchester United in November in the Premier League.
While Luiz is sidelined with a knee injury, he hopes to be fully fit in time for Chelsea’s FA Cup Third Round match against Norwich City next month. The 30-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge looks cloudy and he has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge to either Newcastle United or Arsenal in January, as per Evening Standard.
However, Conte insists he doesn’t know of any such reports, though he did confirm Luiz remains on the treatment table and will not feature against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
When asked where information about Luiz’s future has been originating from, Conte replied:
“I don’t read [the speculation] and I [therefore] solve the problem. I don’t read so I don’t have information about this topic.”
“As a person I am very realistic, I like to tell the truth.”
When questioned why there has been so much speculation about the Brazilian while he hasn’t played, Conte explained further:
“I don’t read, I don’t listen to this. I don’t hear anything about this. I don’t read about my speculation and about the others. He’s out [against Bournemouth]. He’s not available. David Luiz is a very old injury… maybe three weeks,” our boss added.
In Luiz’s absence, Christensen has impressed alongside skipper Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta as Chelsea have racked up 6 wins from 8 Premier League games since our disaster in Rome.
In my opinion, Luiz’s career with us will be over if his tiff with our manager Conte fails to heal. I feel his problems with the club are deeper than just a knee injury.
