NONI MADUEKE is missing Sunday’s Club World Cup final after heading home to start his new life at Arsenal.
And Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insists it was the winger’s decision to join one of his club’s main rivals for next season’s Premier League title.
Madueke, 23, has agreed a five year deal with Arsenal in a deal worth around £52million in total.
Maresca said: “Noni is in contact with a new club, and I guess that he’s going to leave in the next hours.
“I said in one of the last press conferences that at the end, if players want to leave, at the end, it’s difficult for the club and for the manager.
“Noni decided to leave, nobody told Noni he had to leave. If he is happy, we are happy.”
Maresca had recently praised Madueke’s performances at the tournament and was reluctant to let the England international go.
But the arrival of winger Jamie Gittens, plus strikers Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, meant players needed to be offloaded to balance the books.
Chelsea are huge underdogs as they prepare to face European champions Paris Saint-Germain but Italian Maresca insists his team will not be overrun.
He said: “Who said that? We’ll see in two days. For sure they are a top team, the best team in the world. Every game is different. We are going to try our best for a good game.
“I agree with most of the people that they are the best in Europe, the best in the world.
“And the reason why is because they are showing this, they showed France, they showed the Champions League, they are showing this competition, we have maximum respect for them.
“I really like, I really enjoy watching them, but at the same time, we are here to try to do our best, and to be there, to be different.”
PSG boss Luis Enrique was interviewed for the Chelsea manager’s job following the sacking of Graham Potter two years ago.
Maresca said: “Luis Enrique, is a reference not only for me but for all of the people who love football.
“At the same time, we have shown this season how we want to do things on and off the ball.
“They are for sure a reference for most of the managers and most of the players in the world.
“I try to help the team prepare for the game in the best way possible, to give the players all the information possible, so that they can perform on the pitch, and this is my biggest concern. I try to respect any team.”
Why Mikel Arteta wants Noni Madueke
Is Noni Madueke the new Mo Salah?
THE sale of Noni Madueke to Arsenal has split the Chelsea fanbase down the middle.
On one hand, £50million represents great value for a player with seven goals and three assists in the Premier League last season, with three goals coming in one standout performance against Wolves.
But on the other, it signals the sale of a player who perhaps epitomises BlueCo’s model better than any other.
Chelsea are in danger of repeating the mistake they made nine years ago when they sold Mo Salah.
And then watched as he fired Liverpool to two Premier League titles and the Champions League
Read more on whether Chelsea’s decision to sell Madueke is likely to backfire on them.
Read the full article here