Enzo Maresca sets the record straight as he speaks on Noni Madueke’s Chelsea departure | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has confirmed nobody told Noni Madueke he had to leave Chelsea, and he decided he wanted to leave the club.

Madueke is set to complete a move to rivals Arsenal for a fee of £52m after two and a half seasons at Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old won’t be part of the squad for the Club World Cup final and is set to fly back to the UK to undergo his medical.

Maresca speaks on Madueke departure

Madueke featured regularly last season and made 32 appearances in the Premier League, scoring seven goals and registering four assists.

The 23-year-old also made his England debut and has six caps to date, and it may have come as a surprise to some to see him leave.

Jason Cundy admitted he’d be disappointed to see Madueke leave, whilst Maresca has previously said he only wants players who are happy to be at the club.

Madueke will join Arsenal for £52m. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Madueke reportedly wanted a new challenge in a bid for more regular football given the influx of attacking signings, and Maresca has now had his say on the move.

“I said in one of the last press conference that at the end, if players want to leave, at the end, it’s difficult for the club and for the manager,” he told his pre-match press conference.

“Noni decided to leave, nobody told Noni he had to leave. If he is happy, we are happy.

Madueke will finish his Chelsea career with 20 goals and nine assists in 92 appearances following his arrival from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023.

Nicolas Jackson next to leave?

With Madueke gone, there has been speculation that Nicolas Jackson could be the next attacker to leave this summer.

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Jackson currently finds himself in competition with Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, and right now he’s arguably behind both of Chelsea’s signings in the pecking order.

There’s reportedly interest in Jackson from AC Milan and Premier League clubs, with Chelsea’s asking price said to be around £50m, and the situation is certainly one to watch over the coming weeks.