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Disasi’s Chelsea Exile Deepens as Monaco Remains His Priority

Disasi’s Emotional Monaco Connection

Axel Disasi has spoken openly about why he turned down moves to West Ham and Bournemouth, despite facing a four-month exile at Chelsea. The French international, signed for £38.5 million from Monaco in 2023, has been frozen out under Enzo Maresca and left out of both the Premier League and Champions League squads.

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“In the period between the approaches from Bournemouth and West Ham, Monaco arrived and that hit me emotionally,” Disasi told La Media Carre. “I had three incredible years at Monaco. When they came in, all the memories came back. Monaco is home.

“I hoped that Chelsea would find a solution to allow me to leave on loan. I pushed until the last minute to go to Monaco.”

For Disasi, this is not merely a career decision but an emotional one. His time at Monaco shaped his rise to the French national team, where he has collected five caps. Chelsea’s inability to secure a late deal has now left him in limbo until January, when he will once again push for an exit.

Chelsea’s Ruthless Squad Decisions

The Maresca era has been uncompromising. Disasi has been placed in what has been dubbed Chelsea’s “bomb squad” alongside Raheem Sterling and David Datro Fofana. These are players whose futures lie elsewhere and who will not feature this autumn.

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Chelsea’s squad building under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital has been aggressive, resulting in a bloated squad and tough selection calls. While some players have thrived under the pressure, others like Disasi have been forced to wait on the periphery for a resolution.

West Ham and Bournemouth Snubbed

West Ham’s interest in Disasi was genuine, but their eventual signing of Brighton’s Igor Julio highlighted their need to move quickly. Bournemouth also enquired, but the defender’s focus remained firmly on Monaco. Turning down two Premier League clubs suggests that Disasi is determined to control the next step of his career, even if that means missing half a season.

Photo: IMAGO

Chelsea’s decision not to facilitate a loan back to Ligue 1 may raise questions about the club’s handling of players they no longer consider part of the core group. Disasi’s situation mirrors that of Sterling, who despite earning £325,000 per week, has also been exiled and remains reluctant to leave London.

Chelsea Continue to Compete

While Disasi waits, Chelsea continue to battle near the top of the table, sitting second behind Liverpool. Their next fixture takes them to Brentford, a match that will test Maresca’s reshaped side as they chase consistency in the Premier League.

Disasi’s absence will do little to affect the team’s immediate form, but his case highlights the human cost of Chelsea’s rapid squad evolution.

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This is a situation that many Chelsea fans will find frustrating. Axel Disasi arrived with pedigree, a French international capable of strengthening a defence that looked vulnerable. To see him now completely sidelined and not even registered for competitive action is a reminder of how quickly careers can stall in a club pursuing an aggressive recruitment strategy.

It is understandable that Disasi would want Monaco. It is the club where he played his best football and built his reputation. Fans will sympathise with his desire for a return rather than settling for a stopgap move. However, Chelsea’s decision not to find a solution feels like poor squad management, leaving a £38.5 million asset depreciating on the bench.

January will now be crucial. If Chelsea can find a solution that works for both club and player, they may avoid further disruption to squad morale. Until then, the story of Disasi at Stamford Bridge looks like another cautionary tale of a player caught in the churn of modern super-club football.