football.london

Ex-Chelsea striker handed injury blow just weeks after completing transfer

Chelsea sold several strikers during the summer transfer window, and one has already sustained an injury after joining their new club, which will sideline them for several weeks

Marc Guiu

Marc Guiu will miss several weeks with a hamstring injury(Image: Getty Images)

View Image

RB Leipzig have confirmed that Marc Guiu has sustained a hamstring injury in training that will sideline the striker for several weeks.

Guiu, 20, joined them on transfer deadline day, with Chelsea receiving £14.6million, including add-ons. He debuted four days later as a substitute in their next Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen, which they lost 3-1.

The Spain under-21 international then started their Champions League match against Como before being substituted after an hour, with Leipzig ultimately beaten 4-1. Guiu was back on the bench for their next league match against Hamburg and did not play in the 5-0 win.

The club have confirmed: "RB Leipzig are set to be without striker Marc Guiu for several weeks. The 20-year-old suffered an injury to his left hamstring in training this week."

They added: "Wishing you a speedy and full recovery, Marc!" Speaking about the team's injuries, head coach Martin Demichelis said: "We've been a bit unfortunate with the injuries to Marc and Assan (Ouedraogo), which was tough."

The former Manchester City defender acknowledged that they believed Guiu could help them after signing. Demichelis said: "Marc Guiu developed a lot under Enzo Maresca in London, and we're expecting a lot from him. He can help us in different situations; he's quick and presses well."

FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page

All but four of the striker's 29 appearances for Chelsea came while Maresca was his head coach. The now-Manchester City head coach was honest in public with how he handled Guiu.

Speaking in late October last year, Maresca said: "I had a chat with Marc two weeks ago. I told him I didn't like the way he was training, and he needed to change. It changed, and he got the chance. He was not training well in all the ways.

"I don't know why, but that's sometimes the way with young ones, and you need to go slowly with them. Since we chatted, it is top and fantastic, and he is working very well."

Guiu played almost exclusively in domestic cup competitions after Liam Rosenior replaced Maresca. After the Spain under-21 international scored a goal and assisted another in January's third round FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic, his head coach said: "I thought Marc Guiu was magnificent, I thought he deserved his goal."

However, he would play just three more times before the end of the season. That was despite being on the bench almost every week.

Guiu then did not feature at all during pre-season. Finally, a permanent move to Leipzig materialised on deadline day, and now an untimely injury has struck.

Read full news in source page