Benoit Badiashile opens up about ‘difficult’ moment in his career, ‘I was crying every day’…

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Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile has been speaking about his journey to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea signed Badiashile from AS Monaco back in 2023, and the 24-year-old has since gone on to make 50 appearances for the club.

Had it not been for injuries, Badiashile would have racked up more. He is fit again but is having to compete against the likes of Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo for a place in Enzo Maresca‘s team.

There could also be more competition next season, with Chelsea interested in signing Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth.

• READ MORE: Chelsea have made official enquiry to Premier League club about signing their £50m defender this summer

Chelsea star Benoit Badiashile initially struggled at academy in Chateauroux

Before joining Monaco, Badiashile spent some time at an academy in Chateauroux.

The centre-back moved there when he was just 12 years old and, understandably, found it tough.

At one point, Badiashile claimed that he was crying every day, showing just how difficult he found being away from home.

Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, the Frenchman said: “I was 12 years old when I went to Chateauroux, and at the start I was crying every day. Leaving my family was the most difficult thing. I wanted to stop, to come back to Malesherbes. My mother, and my dad as well, said I had to be strong, and to keep working.

“Things got better. The football became a bit more serious. You start to understand the game more. I trained every day at Chateauroux, and I did school there too. When you spend every hour of every day with the same people, you start to create some friendships. It was good.”

Badiashile was linked with a move away from Chelsea during the winter transfer window. Towards the end of January, it was claimed that Tottenham Hotspur tried to sign Badiashile.

With Axel Disasi joining Aston Villa on loan and Wesley Fofana out for the rest of the season, it is a good job that Chelsea kept hold of Badiashile.

Maresca’s side have a crucial five games left to play in the Premier League. They may need him.

Benoit Badiashile on his first professional contract

Badiashile eventually moved to Monaco, where he signed his first professional contract at the age of just 16. For the France international, it was a shock.

“I was a bit surprised,” he said. “Wow. It was something big for me. I was really young and I had trained once with the professional team. It was a great feeling. A really great feeling.”

Unfortunately, largely because of injuries, Badiashile has not quite been able to fulfil his potential at Chelsea yet.

There is still time for him to, but Colwill is currently blocking his path into the team and will not be going anywhere any time soon. Despite interest, Colwill is very unlikely to join Liverpool this summer, for example.