Chelsea sold Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan late in the summer transfer window.
The versatile attacker struggled to become a first-team regular at Stamford Bridge. He played only 38 times in the Premier League, having also struggled with injuries.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca spoke at the Trento Sports Festival on Sunday.
He was asked about Nkunku and why he was sold by the Blues.
The Italian revealed that Cole Palmer’s presence is a reason why the Frenchman departed Stamford Bridge.
Maresca said, relayed by Calciomercato: “He’s strong, I’ve said it several times. We have Cole Palmer in his position, and it would have been difficult for him. But he’s a strong player.”
The Chelsea manager also spoke about managing a very young Blues’ side.
“The advantage of managing such a young group is related to energy, the disadvantage could be in terms of experience.”
Maresca was also asked about his own career and he said: “Now I’m happy where I am, but you never know the future.”
It is clear that the 45-year-old is no stranger to making strong decisions. That is evident from how Nkunku was moved on and it also helped Chelsea earn €42m from the sale.
So far, the France international has struggled in Serie A. He has played only 49 minutes in the Italian top-flight, as his struggles with fitness continue.
This shows that beyond tactical reasons, Chelsea were right to move on from Nkunku. His output at London was never under question but his injuries were always a concern.
Considering how much they earned from his exit, Maresca’s side should be very satisfied.