Chelsea sporting directors explain their latest major transfer decision to fans via unsubtle briefs | OneFootball

Chelsea and their sporting directors do not communicate directly with the fans, one notable interview with Matt Law last year aside.

But they do speak very regularly, and in some detail, through their chosen journalists and through the briefs that the likes of Fabrizio Romano get. They don’t even really try to hide it – some of the Tweets you get feel like they’re coming right from the fingers of Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, barely filtered or adapted at all.

Romano gives first wave of info on collapsed Maignan deal

Fabrizio Romano’s Tweet announcing that Mike Maignan deal is dead.

Today is a perfect example – Romano announces that Chelsea’s deal for Mike Maignan is “off”, because Chelsea aren’t willing to meet AC Milan’s asking price, nor are they willing to be bullied by tonight’s Club World Cup deadline.

Now does that sound like it came from the player’s agent? From Milan? Or from Chelsea. It may as well have been signed off “PW + LS”.

Jacobs adds to info over collapsed deal

Then, just minutes later, Ben Jacobs has all the detail, and all the logic and explanation for why the deal didn’t happen. He Tweeted that Chelsea “retain faith in Robert Sanchez, who finished the season strongly,” as well as packing their investment in Filip Jorgensen and Mike Penders.

It’s also stressed by him that Maignan “was a market opportunity, explored by the sporting directors. Enzo Maresca not driving the move, and Chelsea sticking to their valuation.”

It’s a direct response to the instant backlash online created by the news of the deal’s collapse.

Honestly, if they’re going to be this flagrant about it, why not just come out and make statements themselves? We’d respect their straightforwardness a lot more. Either ignore it, or address it. This cowardly halfway house makes everyone look bad.