Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has confirmed that winger Mykhailo Mudryk will link up with his squad on the next leg of their pre-season tour in Hong Kong after being cleared to play football again following a two-year doping saga.
The FA have announced that Mudryk has been cleared to “return to competition with immediate effect” after anti-doping disciplinary proceedings were resolved.
The Ukrainian forward had initially been suspended for four years after failing a drug test which revealed the presence of meldonium, a prohibited substance, in 2024.
Speaking after a 2-1 friendly loss to Tottenham in Sydney, Alonso was asked repeatedly about Mudryk, his reintegration into the squad and whether he had spoken to the 25-year-old since taking over as Chelsea boss.
“Yeah, we are happy, especially for him because probably we are not able to understand what he has been through in this time and how he feels at the moment with the things that he had to cope (with),” Alonso said.
“And we want (him to) feel part of (the) team because he’s been training on his own for a long time – and that he (has) the support from everyone, from the club, from the teammates, from the staff.
“For sure it will take time so once he’s with us we will see how things develop.”
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Asked about how Mudryk is going to be handled, given his lengthy absence from football, Alonso continued: “We need to see. It’s too early to tell.
“To see how he is in terms of fitness, in terms of game time that you need to be involved again. So still early to tell.
“… It will take time. But once there’s a change, things start moving. And for him, it’s a massive change.
“… It had to be really, really hard because he wanted to play football. He wanted to be part of a team. And he was not allowed to do that for such a long time.
“So once this big change has happened, now things will move on. And after we’ll see if it takes quicker, it’s slower. But we need to be aware of that.”
Alonso recalled watching Mudryk during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk, where he exploded onto the radar with a stunning season in 2022/23.
The winger scored three goals and provided two assists in six appearances in the Champions League, while scoring seven goals and adding six assists in 12 matches in the Ukrainian top-flight.
“I remember watching him in Shakhtar, the impact he had, how quick he is,” the Chelsea boss said.
“He had good 1v1 situations, how he could create a lot of situations on his own. He’s a special player, but it will take time for sure.
“… We were not expecting to have this great news at this moment. We are very happy. We feel that he will be working with us.
“I am very happy for him. For me for sure, but mainly for him, because it’s massive.
“To go through what he has done, to get that frustration not to play what you love to do, it has to be really, really hard.
“So now for sure he’s so excited and we want to help him in that and that he feels part of something because that’s about football, about being a team. This team spirit, everyday training and you miss that when you are not allowed.”
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi was also asked about Mudryk in his post-match press conference, with the Spurs manager coaching the winger during his stint at Shakhtar.
Mudryk played 19 matches under the Italian coach in all competitions, before the tactician had to leave Ukraine due to the ongoing war in the region.
“He’s another of my sons and I’m very happy he deserves to play,” De Zerbi said.
“He’s a good guy, top player. Hopefully he can show what he suffered in the last two years in the next season, this season.
“Maybe not against Tottenham but he’s a lovely guy and he’s a very, very good player.”
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Asked if he has spoken with Mudryk during his two-year ban, De Zerbi continued: “With Misha? Misha Mudryk? All the time.
“With my former player, I talk a lot of time.
“Behind this room there is Kevin Prince-Boateng, my former player at Sassuolo, he played in Tottenham and he’s like another son because the relationship can’t finish after you leave from a team. Or with Levi Colwill… with João Pedro.
“All people I have to thank you for what they gave me. And for Misha the same, especially for Misha Mudryk because I left from Kiev for the war.
“For the war reason and I left that team, that club, not for football. It was an amazing team, amazing group. Maybe the best level of football I’ve done.”