Forgotten prospect has no regrets about moving to Chelsea, is ready for another loan next season

Now, in fairness, my headline would've been much more appropriate had Cristián Cuevas not scored a spectacular free kick about a month ago.  You might remember it as well.

The goal was arguably the highlight of Chile's unsuccessful showing at this year's Sudamericano U20, which is the qualifying tournament to determine South America's representatives in next year's Olympics (Argentina will join hosts Brazil) and this summer's U20 World Cup (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay).  Chile finished dead last in their group, Cuevas scoring half of their four goals total.

Unfortunately for the left back and occasional left winger, those two weeks have also been his personal highlight this season (so far).  Stuck in his loan team's development squad when not training with Chile's U20 side in preparation for the aforementioned tournament (or participating in last summer's U20 World Cup), Cuevas has just one senior appearance to his name for Universidad de Chile.

La U won the opening tournament (Apertura) of Chile's 2014-15 professional season, but they're off to a pretty bad start in the closing tournament (Clausura).  Perhaps that will give Cuevas a few more opportunities before he returns to Chelsea this summer?

In an interview with La Tercera, the 19-year-old talks about the season that's been and plans that are to come.  And about how he has no regrets about accepting a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity of a Chelsea contract at such a young age, despite seemingly spending more time traveling the loan circuit than actually playing ever since.

[Chelsea] was a possibility that after perhaps not I would never [have again].

[...]

If I start playing [for Universidad de Chile this season], I'm fine and the coach believes me, I'd like to stay [next season]. I'm a fan of the U, like my family.

[...]

I have a contract with [The U] until June, and the plan is to go after a team from abroad, on loan. You have to see what happens. I have to go back to England and see what they decide.

-Cristián Cuevas; source: La Tercera via Google Translate

Cuevas will have three years left on his Chelsea contract this summer.  There's still plenty of time to show just why we decided to spend £3m on him in 2013.