Insider explains why £14m player with chance to be starter made shocking decision this week | OneFootball

While everyone was focused on the story about Chelsea’s attempts to sign Mike Maignan, the real goalkeeper story at the club came out of nowhere when it was revealed earlier this week that Djordje Petrovic, who was our first choice keeper for a good chunk of the season before last and then had an amazing campaign at Strasbourg on loan, was not going to the Club World Cup.

That stunned everyone – he was expected to be at the very least competing for our number one shirt this season, and instead he’s taken a swerve towards the exit.

Matt Law drops the details on Petrovic’s swerve

Djordje Petrovic warming up.

We’ve been waiting for a little more detail on the story from someone in the know, and finally Matt Law of the Telegraph has weighed in:

“I’m told that he’s a nice lad. I think he’s a headstrong lad, because I think this time last year when it was made clear to him ‘you won’t start this coming season as number one because Maresca doesn’t see you as a style fit for him at this stage’ [he left on loan].”

“I think he made it clear this time last year that if he wasn’t going to be number one, having spent the season at number one, then he would rather look for something elsewhere. So I think he is headstrong. He clearly knows his own value and his own worth.”

Petrovic knows his value and is ready to leave to start

You’ve got to respect Petrovic here. He’s been told he’s not a “style fit” and not a guaranteed starter, so has backed himself to find somewhere he can be a number one at a top club.

We’d rather have him in goal than Sanchez, but we totally understand why he’s decided to clear off.