As far back as pre-season there were concerns Axel Disasi was not technical enough to play in Enzo Maresca’s system according to The Athletic.
Disasi arrived at Chelsea in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £38.8m from French side Monaco and featured regularly under Mauricio Pochettino.
The 26-year-old made 44 appearances in all competitions, with 31 of those coming in the Premier League as the Blues secured a top six finish.
Disasi not considered technical enough
Thiago Silva left in the summer with Tosin Adarabioyo arriving on free transfer from Fulham, but things have changed drastically for the France international under Maresca.
Disasi missed pre-season to undergo a small operation on an issue that had been bothering him, whilst Maresca selected Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana as his first choice pairing.
The Frenchman has featured sparingly and has started just one Premier League game, whilst his only minutes at centre back have come against Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
Axel Disasi in action for Chelsea. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)
Disasi has started one Premier League game this season. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)
The lack of action and the fact he’s fifth choice centre back at the club has led to Disasi being linked with a move away, and it’s hard to see how he will be at the club next season.
With Fofana now injured, there’s an outside chance Disasi could get minutes after Maresca refused to confirm who would replace the 23-year-old, although Benoit Badiashile is the most likely candidate.
Disasi’s lack of minutes shouldn’t come as a surprise after The Athletic reported there were noises coming out of Chelsea in pre-season he wasn’t technical enough to play in Maresca’s system.
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Stamford Bridge halfway line.
Chelsea flag at Stamford Bridge.
Stamford Bridge in the early evening, quite generic. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The defender has featured regularly in the cup competitions, albeit at right back and if Josh Acheampong wasn’t frozen out its’s likely Disasi would have featured even less.
Whether he leaves in January remains to be seen, but given his lack of minutes and the fact Chelsea want to sign another centre back, it very much feels like this is Disasi’s final season at the club.