Enzo Maresca can't hide true feelings after Chelsea youngster is brutally frozen out

Chelsea caput manager Enzo Maresca has breached his soundlessness connected the declaration enactment that has led to academy postgraduate Josh Acheampong being frozen retired of the Italian's team

Enzo Maresca admits it's "a shame" that Chelsea academy merchandise Josh Acheampong has been frozen retired owed to a declaration dispute.

It emerged earlier this week that the highly-rated Cobham graduate, 18, would not diagnostic for the nine again unless helium committed to a caller deal, with his existent declaration owed to expire successful 2026.

Acheampong was included connected the Blues pre-season circuit aft rising done the ranks astatine Stamford Bridge but has not been included successful the first-team squad. The defender volition not beryllium considered for enactment by the improvement team, either, per The Athletic.

Maresca revealed connected Wednesday that helium had spoken with the youngster astir the concern earlier expressing his regret that Acheampong would miss retired connected Thursday night's Europa Conference League necktie with Panathinaikos.

“To beryllium honest, I consciousness a spot of shame for Josh due to the fact that I deliberation this benignant of games tin beryllium an accidental for him. I had a chat with him, personally, astir 3 weeks ago; astir his concern and the chat we had was a precise bully chat, a affirmative chat but since that infinitesimal I haven’t spoken to him again.

”As I said, it’s a shame. I deliberation Josh perchance tin go a apical player. He is inactive 18, truthful inactive precise young, truthful galore things tin alteration for him, but helium tin perchance beryllium (a) precise important happening for Chelsea.

“It’s truthful important for the nine that our volition is not to suffer him. The archetypal happening we request to bash is to find a solution for his future.

Join the debate! Do you deliberation Chelsea are doing the close happening with Acheampong? Let america cognize here.

“The astir important happening astatine this signifier is to get minutes, bask and to play football. For him, I don’t cognize the radical who are trying to lick the problem, if they are helping him oregon not. I truly similar Josh and I would truly similar to person him present with america but it is not possible.”

While Chelsea would similar to clasp Acheampong's services for the long-term, talks with the promising defender person stalled. The concern has not gone unnoticed elsewhere, either, with Acheampong said to beryllium being targeted by different large clubs.

Acheampong has featured conscionable erstwhile nether Maresca this season, playing 27 minutes successful their 5-0 triumph implicit League Two outfit Barrow successful the Carabao Cup past month.

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