The name Mateo Musacchio crops up in Chelsea articles and comments going as far back as 2012, yet here we are five years later and he’s still clad in the submarine yellow of La Liga side Villareal.
A big part of that is probably the center back’s recent penchant for picking a rather wide variety of random injuries, such as a broken ankle in 2015, a broken wrist in 2016, and various muscle strains that have altogether limited him to playing only about a third of Villareal’s league games over the last two seasons. This season was going a bit better but thanks to the aforementioned broken wrist and another muscle injury, he’s played just four La Liga games since Thanksgiving.
None of that puts him in a strong position to negotiate a new deal on this contract that’s expiring in 2018 and also reportedly includes a £21m release clause. AC Milan are apparently very close to paying that and agreeing a transfer deal for the summer, but according to the Mirror, Chelsea are hoping to hijack proceedings and sign the 26-year-old instead.
Chelsea looking to pip AC Milan to Villarreal's £21m-rated centre-back Mateo Musacchiohttps://t.co/4jt7pHBuJ3 pic.twitter.com/CTeLaJvCq1
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 25, 2017
Musacchio was once very highly rated, but the injuries have taken a fair bit of shine off of those prospects, especially now at the ripe old age of 26. But considering that there are clubs willing to pay £21 for Musacchio should put the next rumor into perspective.
Also according to the Mirror, Borussia Mönchengladbach will once again try to convince Chelsea to sell Andreas Christensen instead of recalling him as is the plan of record. But their rumored offer is a laughable £13m, especially considering that they were rumored to be considering a €20m offer (£16m). You’re supposed increase your bid, not decrease it! This is not how negotiate...
Not that it matters, because as the Mirror themselves confirm, Chelsea (and Christensen) are all counting on the young defender being at Chelsea next season. As he should. Sorry Gladbach, and thanks for all the development work!