Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Dario Essugo’s future has become clearer at Chelsea, but it looks as if the wrong decision will be made.
Dario Essugo’s pre-season has provided a massive boost after a nightmare debut year at Stamford Bridge.
The 21-year-old barely got off the ground last term, sidelined by a brutal thigh injury that saw him miss over 25 games across all competitions. But Xabi Alonso has clearly taken a shine to the Portuguese midfielder during summer preparation.
Essugo didn’t just get quality minutes under his belt across the pre-season tour, he was even handed the captain’s armband in the final match against Johor DT.
It is proper redemption for a young lad ready to make up for lost time.
Dario Essugo set to stay at Chelsea
It was originally claimed that Dario Essugo was open to a loan move away from Chelsea to gain regular minutes, but he now looks set to stay.
Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson and Reece James are expected to compete for midfield roles at Chelsea, according to The Athletic.
With no European competitions, having just two central midfield spots and seven players fighting for them just doesn’t make sense. Especially as Essugo will likely be near the bottom of the pile.
Dario Essugo needs to be playing every game
At just 21 years old, Dario Essugo is at a crossroads in his career, and bench-warming simply isn’t an option. After losing almost an entire season to injury, the lad desperately needs consistent minutes to build momentum, sharpen his game, and reach his potential.
While keeping him as squad depth might sound safe for the club, it is a proper mistake for his actual development. At his age, sitting on the bench for brief cup cameos will only stunt his progress. He needs to be playing every week, making mistakes, and growing, not watching from the sidelines.