Chelsea’s treatment of £14m signing last summer was shameful, they could now go grovelling back to him

Add as preferred source on Google

Chelsea came in for a lot of criticism last summer for their handling of several players in their squad.

The likes of Raheem Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah were axed from the Chelsea first team before being sent out on loan.

Chalobah, who recently picked up an injury, was later recalled from Crystal Palace and is part of the main Chelsea squad again. But the club’s treatment of him before the start of the season did not go down well.

Another Chelsea player who was treated unjustly was Djordje Petrovic, with the Blues sending him to Strasbourg on loan just one year after signing the goalkeeper.

• READ MORE: ‘World-class’ Chelsea player is ‘likely’ to leave this summer despite outperforming current starter

Chelsea’s treatment of Djordje Petrovic was shameful

Chelsea bought Petrovic from New England Revolution for £14m in 2023 to provide cover for Robert Sanchez.

However, after an injury to his teammate, the 25-year-old eventually became the first-choice goalkeeper and impressed.

When Arsenal legend and former shot-stopper David Seaman spoke about Petrovic after his performance in the 2024 Carabao Cup final, he said: “The save that he made from [Luis] Diaz at the back post, that was a brilliant foot save, right on the line and then he managed to get the rebound and everything along with a clout to the head. He made some really good saves.”

Nevertheless, Sanchez was made the No.1 again and Filip Jorgensen was signed from Villarreal. As a result, Petrovic was sent to Strasbourg for the season without getting a real opportunity under Enzo Maresca.

It was claimed that Chelsea had doubts about Petrovic and whether he would suit Maresca’s style. But that just sounded like a sorry excuse to offload him and bring in another goalkeeper, which the club eventually did after signing Jorgensen.

Djordje Petrovic could get second chance at Chelsea next season

In the end, Petrovic’s loan move to Strasbourg has probably worked out well. Petrovic has really shone in Ligue 1 this season and could now get another shot at Stamford Bridge.

It is being reported that Chelsea could give Petrovic an opportunity to compete for the No.1 spot in the 2025/26 campaign, though transfer insider Graeme Bailey has told The Chelsea Chronicle that he cannot see the Serbian actually becoming their starting goalkeeper again.

Right now, there is not a world-class goalkeeper on the market. If the Blues want to strengthen in that position this summer, then it may be worth giving Petrovic another go. And after the season that he has had at Strasbourg, it looks like they could.