Chelsea Outcast Fires Back at Enzo Maresca: 'I Did Everything' in Explosive Summer Exit Fallout
Christopher Nkunku pointed to the "decisions" made by Enzo Maresca as a key factor behind his struggles to establish himself at Chelsea.
The agile French attacker's signing in west London two years prior was considered quite a statement. Acquired for €60 million (£52.1 million, $70.3 million), Nkunku had been involved in 53 Bundesliga goals over the preceding two campaigns. He ended up recording just eight total goals and assists combined throughout his two seasons in the Premier League.
Following speculation about a January departure, particularly to Bayern Munich, Nkunku finally completed a permanent transfer to AC Milan this summer for a fee reaching €42 million. Upon joining at San Siro, the adaptable attacker was eager to clarify his situation.
Nkunku suffered an injury during Chelsea's last match of their pre-season US tour in his inaugural summer with the club, disrupting his entire first season where he managed only two Premier League starting appearances. "I picked up an injury immediately and was sidelined for five months, then suffered a setback when I returned," the French player revealed after joining Milan.
Nevertheless, Nkunku entered the 2024–25 season fully fit, coinciding with Maresca's appointment as Chelsea's head coach. "During my second season, I put in the effort and did all I could to be prepared," Nkunku emphasized, "but the manager made his decisions."
These decisions essentially meant bypassing Nkunku. The 27-year-old received just three Premier League starts before being selected against Brighton & Hove Albion on Valentine's Day. Chelsea suffered a 3–0 defeat. Injuries to other attacking players early in the new year compelled Maresca to rely on Nkunku, who decisively failed to capitalize on these limited opportunities.
Throughout the 2024–25 season, the Paris Saint-Germain youth product was directly involved in five Premier League goals—four coming against a Southampton team that experienced the second-poorest campaign in the league's history.
"I remain the same player I've always been," Nkunku declared. "I want to enjoy my football, and I believe things will be different here in Milan." They certainly couldn't get much worse.