£15m player says he had no idea what would happen to him after he left Chelsea

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The BlueCo era at Chelsea has seen more player movement than ever before at the club.

Chelsea’s strategy has changed when it comes to recruitment and sales. Signing young players and treating them as assets has been an effective way of restructuring the club, and two trophies last season suggest the approach is paying off.

• READ MORE: Chelsea are asking for more injury issues if they loan out £37m star in January

But from a player perspective, it can be a harsh way of doing business.

Players can be tossed aside at a moment’s notice, even players once considered a Chelsea great in the making.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek opens up about Chelsea exit

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was widely considered to be the future of Chelsea when he first broke through at Cobham. A 6’4″ physical beast with all the technical ability to dominate a midfield, the hype around him was massive.

But it never clicked for Loftus-Cheek at Chelsea. Though he was part of the squad for two Premier League titles, he never fully broke into the side. Injuries played a part in that, and after eight seasons with the Blues, he was sold to AC Milan.

Loftus-Cheek recently did an interview for Milan’s YouTube channel, where he discussed his swift exit.

He said: “To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect leaving Chelsea. I was there for a long time; it was my home.”

The English attacking midfielder had just begun to get regular minutes at Stamford Bridge, making 49 league appearances in his last two seasons. But it was at a time when Chelsea were restructuring, and that spelt the end for his time at the club.

He continues: “I saw an opportunity to come to Milan for a new experience and to win things. So far it’s been fantastic. I’m starting to feel good now, and I wanted to embrace the culture coming over here.”

Injuries prevented Loftus-Cheek from reaching his true potential

Given Loftus-Cheek’s reputation as a young player, you would have expected him to go down as a Chelsea legend. Unfortunately, injuries plagued his career and prevented him from realising his potential.

He has missed well over 100 games in the last eight seasons, suffering injuries that are extremely difficult to overcome.

• READ MORE: Wesley Fofana shares what Levi Colwill does ‘every morning’ at the Chelsea training ground after ACL injury

A player who was seen as a key part of England’s midfield has now faded from contention.

It’s a testament to how ability only gets you so far, and physical issues can derail a career. But Loftus-Cheek is enjoying life in Milan. Still only 29, he could yet add to his legacy, if his body lets him.