Well, that was quick.
Just this afternoon we got the first whiff from French football paper L’Equipe that something was up. They reported that Strasbourg were going to buy Chelsea winger Diego Moreira, who arrived last summer from Benfica.
Now, just a few hours later, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that it’s a done deal, with the Portuguese winger signing a 5 year deal at our sister club. He is considered a “perfect fit” for new coach Liam Rosenior’s system there in Alsace.
The whole thing got rather confusing when Romano himself started reporting that the move would be a loan rather than a permanent deal – but his latest Tweet can confirmed the much more sensible original idea.
A loan move would have taken up one of our precious few remaining foreign loan slots. We expect those to be reserved for the highest value and highest potential players still at the club.
It would also have blocked a potential move for goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic to Strasbourg on loan – something Romano points out is still on the cards.
🔵🇫🇷 Strasbourg have completed deal to sign Diego Moreira from Chelsea on a permanent move.
It will be permanent rather than loan.
Moreira signs five year deal, seen as winger perfect fit for Liam Rosenior’s system at Strasbourg. pic.twitter.com/sTHzk4oKf3
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2024
Another one bites the dust
In the grand scheme of things, Moreira wasn’t a big fish. He was signed for free and wasn’t on big wages. And he was playing in the youth teams.
But still, we’ve repeatedly pointed to the silly number of players Chelsea have on the books at the moment, and moving each and every one on matters.
Of course it’s funny to look back at the original presentation of Moreira as an exciting singing with first team prospects, when that was clearly not the case. He was a quick punt on a free agent, and while he could yet make BlueCo money in the future if they sell him from Strasbourg elsewhere, we’re holding out breath on him becoming the new Luis Figo.
Pls Chelsea should try and sighn Osimeh as thier hit-man, just like man-city that has Haaland, thanks