David Zappacosta explained to il Napolista that he couldn’t remain at Chelsea because of the minimal game time he was receiving.
The 28-year-old completed a £23m (Sky Sports) move from Torino to Stamford Bridge in 2017.
He was brought in by Antonio Conte, who had previously managed Zappacosta with the Italy national team.
Two underwhelming years passed before he was sent on six-month loan to Roma in 2019/20.
There he was limited to just nine appearances after being struck by cruciate ligament rupture.
Zappacosta remained in his native land the following term but with Genoa instead, which is where he resides currently.
When asked about why he transferred away from Chelsea, the defender’s response was pretty clear.
“Last year at Chelsea I had played very little and at Roma I broke my cruciate,” he said.
“I wanted to get back into the game and Genoa was the ideal team: an important club, with the desire to build an ambitious team and many companions animated by a desire for redemption.
“This is why I didn’t hesitate and immediately said yes: I immediately found myself in the mentality of a hungry group and club, driven by the desire for revenge.”
It is true Zappacosta’s minutes at Chelsea were limited. He didn’t play at all for Frank Lampard and only really featured for Maurizio Sarri in the Europa League.
Only Conte gave him a real chance. Those days are now far off in the distance.
Thomas Tuchel could be the fourth manager that Zappacosta has lived through during his disappointing Chelsea career.
That’s if Tuchel bothers to recall him from permanently from Genoa. This seems unlikely.