“My message to the players…” – Maresca hints player could leave with answer to transfer question | OneFootball

Chelsea beat Palmeiras last night in an exciting game in Philadelphia, putting the Blues into the Club World Cup semi finals.

Madueke plays important role in Chelsea win

Noni Madueke attacks the Palmeiras box in Philadelphia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

It wasn’t an easy game – despite controlling things early on, a strike from nowhere for Estevao Willian got the Brazilians back into the game, and they had a moment in the ascendancy where Enzo Maresca’s team started to wobble.

But the manager made a few changes and turned things around again. One of those switches involved bringing on Noni Madueke to play on the left wing in place of Christopher Nkunku. The Englishman was far more effective and direct in his time on the pitch, and after the game Maresca was asked about the rumours linking the winger with moves to Arsenal.

Maresca fails to put Madueke – Arsenal move rumours to bed

“Noni has been very important for us during this season,” Maresca said.

“Today, again, he has been important. But my message to the players and to the club is that I want just players that are happy to be with us. The ones that are not happy, they are free to go. It’s not for Noni, it’s for all the players we have. But again, Noni has been very good during the season and very good tonight.”

So while he emphasises his quality and his importance tonight, Maresca certainly doesn’t really put the rumours to bed. He just says that players who want to leave are free to go, which is quite different to Madueke is staying.

Is he hinting that Madueke is one of the players “that are not happy?” It’s not quite clear. There certainly seems to be a lot more to come on this transfer topic.