TIEMOUE BAKAYOKO has opened up on his Chelsea hell, admitting he felt the club “didn’t want him anymore”.
Big things were expected of the midfielder when he moved to Stamford Bridge from Monaco in a deal reported to be around £40million.
But things went sour very quickly, and after just 25 starts for the Londoners, he was shipped out to AC Milan on a season-long loan.
Speaking to French site Bros Stories about his short-lived spell at Stamford Bridge, the 24-year-old said: “I left Chelsea because I felt that the club did not want me anymore.
“Of course, I was sorry. I’ve been there for a year, it did not go as I had expected.
“It was a simple and difficult decision at the same time to be taken because Chelsea are Chelsea and I do not think I have shown my skills, so it is unpleasant.
“It was an easy decision instead because I do not think the coach was counting on me and Milan is difficult to refuse.
“What went wrong at Chelsea? Everything was going right up to a particular moment.
“It was not a simple thing to live and it was probably my first hard time in my career: to be in a club that does not want you for the following season.”
Since joining up with the Italian giants, Bakayoko has looked to be almost back to his best, and has been heralded as somewhat of a coup to bring in.
He has paid tribute to Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso, labelling him a “father figure” who has helped him get back his “fighting spirit”.
He added: “Transition to Milan? It was all fast, I started and I was not happy but I was not even sad not to play and not be sided by the coach. It all happened quickly from the moment I understood with certainty that Milan wanted me.
It is not simple but I think it is necessary to live moments like these. It helped me a lot to overcome what I’m experiencing now. Now I’m ready to face more difficult moments, I think I’m better prepared.”
With Jorginho and N’Golo Kante seemingly Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri‘s first choice, Bakayoko looks likely to be on the lookout for a permanent switch.
And AC Milan looks the likely destination long-term, with the club having the option to but the French international.
Source: thesun.co.uk
