Chelsea star rejects transfer away from club despite Enzo Maresca's bloated squad

Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei has revealed he turned down the chance to leave the club on loan in the summer after discussions with head coach Enzo Maresca.

The 21-year-old, who arrived at Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan in 2022, spent the first half of last season playing under Maresca at Leicester in the Championship before being recalled in January.

After struggling for game time under former boss Mauricio Pochettino, the current campaign has seen him make his first start for the club as he played the full 90 minutes in the 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Barrow.

And the Italy under-21 international, who has been named in the Chelsea squad to face Belgian side Gent in the Conference League on Thursday, said it took little persuading by Maresca to get him to stay.

“It was my decision,” he said. “Last season was not easy for me. At the start of this season I was thinking about what was the best solution for me, but the moment I spoke to the manager I was sure that the decision to stay was the best for me and for my career.”

“I never had the idea to go permanently to another club. There were some possible loans, but I spoke to the manager, he told me what he thinks. I had no doubt. I always wanted to play for Chelsea. I could not be more proud to play for Chelsea.”

He added he has enjoyed his reunion with Maresca following their time together during Leicester’s second-tier title-winning season, with the head coach having hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge since succeeding Pochettino.

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League and, with 15 goals in six games, are the division’s top scorers.

“Everyone understood from the first day what his idea was, how he wanted to play,” said Casadei. “It was very easy for everyone to understand what he wants.”

“I really like how he wants to play, the way he thinks and the way he sees football. He’s a great manager because he’s able to take the best out of every one of us.”

“He’s really demanding but that’s the way it should be. Everyone knows we are at Chelsea and there are high expectations.”