“I was privileged”: Ex-Blues starlet reveals why he left Chelsea in 2020 and Reece James advice

Brighton ace Tariq Lamptey opens up on Chelsea exit and Reece James advice in latest interview

Speaking to talkSPORT (h/t The Metro), Brighton star Tariq Lamptey has revealed his reason to leave Chelsea in 2020 and the advice Reece James gave to him during their time together. 

The young full-back spent more than a decade at the Cobham academy but was bereft of top-flight chances. After all, he was just developing. His time to prove himself eventually came under Frank Lampard, as was the case for several of our current youth products in the senior team.

But Lamptey was something different. He was brought on against Arsenal when the Blues were down by a goal at the Emirates in December 2019. The marauding right-back turned the match on its head as we won 2-1 in the final minutes. 

However, he sealed a £3million move to Brighton in the following month. Lamptey recently revealed the reason for his departure and the advice Reece James gave him during their time together.

‘I was privileged to be in a good place where they allowed me to develop, and I’m grateful to them. But I feel it was time to try and get regular game time and just try and take my game to the next level and keep developing.

‘When I was at Chelsea, Reece James was in the age group older than me. He was always giving me good advice. I’m happy to see him doing well, and hopefully, that continues…There was a good academy at Chelsea, and they give you the tools you need to try and develop your game.’

The one that missed out

He has been brilliant for the Seagulls as he looks complete two years under the tutelage of Graham Potter. However, the Englishman is one the Blues missed out on developing completely at Cobham and getting promoted to the first-team. 

However, for all his talent, he was always going to have to wait for his chance. Reece James was promoted to the senior team in the 2019/20 season after an impressive loan spell at Wigan Athletic. Cesar Azpilicueta had also cemented his place in the squad.

Apart from this, Tino Livramento was also making strides in the youth setup. But as we now know, he too sealed a move to Southampton in the summer. Such is the competition for the right-back role. 

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Regardless, one would not want to rule out a return for the 21-year-old in the future despite there being no real indications that he would be open to a return. His runs down the right flank and an eye for attacking empty spaces in the final third would have made him an astute understudy to James. But it just wasn’t meant to be, it seems.