Has attracted attention from European giants. Chelsea accelerates Messi transfer
London's Chelsea is looking to fast-track the signing of one of Europe's most promising young talents—French winger Ryan Messi. The 18-year-old has already caught the eye of several top clubs, including Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and PSG.
Currently, Messi is gaining valuable experience in Saudi Arabia, where he plays for Neom on loan. His rights are owned by Strasbourg, which is part of the BlueCo football group—Chelsea's owners.
Within the BlueCo structure, it has been made clear that they have no intention of parting ways with the player, despite mounting interest from European heavyweights. The board sees Messi as a key figure in their long-term project.
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The original plan was for him to join Strasbourg's first team next season and continue his development there. However, given Messi's rapid progress and the attention from elite European clubs, that plan might be reconsidered.
Chelsea is already weighing the possibility of integrating the youngster into the club's system sooner than expected. If the coaching staff deems Messi ready for Premier League action, he could get his chance to shine in London ahead of schedule.
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert