Illan Meslier in action for Leeds United. (imago Images)
Speaking in an interview with The Athletic (Subscription Required) [h/t football.london], Leeds United goalkeeper, Illan Meslier, revealed why he turned down a late move to Chelsea three years ago.
Chelsea fans won’t be quick to forget the summer of 2018 which saw Thibaut Courtois finally get his move to Real Madrid. These proceedings meant the Blues wanted a goalkeeper to replace the outgoing Belgian.
And apparently, Meslier was one of the players that the Blues contacted for a late switch. The Frenchman was then at French side, Lorient, and he says that a move fell through because Chelsea were late in their approach.
“Chelsea agreed with Lorient and then asked me, ‘Are you ready?’ But it was 24 hours before the end of the window. I said: ‘No, it’s too late, man! If you’d come one or two weeks earlier then I might have said yes. I can’t sign for you so late.”
Meslier was 18 back then and he recognized that being the number 1 goalkeeper at a club like Chelsea is not the easiest task. It was the uncertainty regarding his role at the club that played a part in him staying at Les Merlus.
“Chelsea are a big club. You would ask me, ‘Why not [go]?’. But there are lots of keepers in Chelsea’s academy It’s very hard to grow up there and sometimes you sign and you have to go on loan, things like that. It’s better, I think, to work in your club and then sign to be a No.1 at 24, 25. Not at 18 years old.”
Chelsea, of course, activated the £71.5million release clause in Kepa Arrizabalaga’s contract at Athletic Bilbao in order to replace Courtois. The Spaniard became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper that day.
But after three seasons at the Bridge, it’s safe to say that Kepa has not lived up to the expectations of the fans. Edouard Mendy’s status as Chelsea’s number 1 under both Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel is further proof of that.
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