Chelsea have signed a plethora of stars in the recent past, but not all of them have worked out as intended.
Every transfer move is a gamble. No player is guaranteed to succeed in a new environment.
But Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus thinks one Blues transfer didn’t just not work out, but derailed a young player’s career.
Timo Werner’s 2020 move to Chelsea happened as the forward was on the verge of superstardom, having registered 34 goals and 13 assists the season prior.
However, Matthaus believes that his compatriot’s move to the Premier League was a bit too premature for him.
But he has slammed Chelsea’s handling of the star forward during his time at Stamford Bridge.
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Lothar Matthaus criticises Chelsea’s handling of Timo Werner
Werner’s career was on an upward trajectory before his move to Stamford Bridge.
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Matthaus shared his thoughts on the then-24-year-old’s unsuccessful switch.
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He said, “For me, the move to England was far too early for him. He scored many, many goals, decided many games and also appeared confident on the pitch [at Leipzig].”
“The move to England did something to him because he didn’t get the same warmth there either. There’s a family atmosphere at Stuttgart, and here at RB Leipzig, people hug each other, that doesn’t happen in England. It’s tough, professional football.”
Eventually, Werner was sold back to Leipzig in 2022 for just over half what the Blues paid for him, marking yet another unsuccessful transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League.
When one thinks of Werner’s time at Chelsea, it might be tempting to call him a flop but that conclusion could be a bit hard.
The German spent two years at Stamford Bridge, registering 23 goals and 21 assists in 89 appearances, while winning the Champions League and the Club World Cup.
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