Malang Sarr’s agent Federico Pastorello has hinted at his client’s potential loan exit this January after failing to secure a move away from Chelsea last summer.
Most Chelsea fans would know Pastorello as Romelu Lukaku’s agent. However, the Italian had previously worked with Chelsea on several other occasions.
His relationship with the club began when he took Carlo Cudicini to the club in 1999. Apparently, he further strengthened the bond after he recommended Cesar Azpilicueta to the club in 2012.
In summer 2020, Pastorello brokered Sarr’s free transfer move from Nice to Chelsea.
Interestingly, Pastorello said he sees a few similarities between Sarr and Azpilicueta.
“I see in Malang the same attitude, the same focus, the same talent as Azpi when he joined Chelsea,” the agent told The Telegraph.
“That’s setting the bar so high and, of course, Malang needs to improve on the tactical side because Azpi is a genius, he’s a professor.
“But, like I was with Azpi, I’m 100 per cent sure that he will end up being a player for Chelsea.”
Sarr’s potential Chelsea loan exit
Sarr spent last season on loan at FC Porto, before surprisingly making the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge this season.
He has only featured three times under Thomas Tuchel this season, though, and Pastorello believes the centre-back first needs to play regularly elsewhere to develop.
“This is what we wanted in the summer,” Pastorello said about Sarr’s failed loan move to Bundesliga.
“We had a deal practically done with Eintracht Frankfurt, but they could not move a player, so Malang stayed.
“Let’s see in January what will happen.
“Maybe he can go on loan then because maybe he needs one or two seasons playing regularly before coming back, like many players in Chelsea have done.”
But as it stands, it is possible that Tuchel will not allow Sarr to leave in January.
While the 22-year-old is obviously not a regular starter, he is still one of the few left centre-backs options in the squad besides Antonio Rudiger.
Not to mention that Sarr himself seems to be enjoying his life at Chelsea, having previously said he had no problem adapting thanks to two teammates, in particular.