How Enzo Maresca initially felt about Axel Disasi return at Chelsea

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Chelsea defender Axel Disasi is set to become an option for Enzo Maresca after the international break.

After being frozen out, Disasi has now returned to first-team training at Cobham.

However, many will still be expecting the centre-back to leave Chelsea in January, with a couple of clubs thought to be interested in him.

Last month, it was reported that Galatasaray want to negotiate a deal for Disasi as they look to strengthen their backline.

• READ MORE: Enzo Maresca must learn key lesson from Axel Disasi’s last league start for Chelsea ahead of return

Enzo Maresca wasn’t desperate for Axel Disasi to return to first team

If Disasi does depart Chelsea in the January transfer window, Maresca is unlikely to be too fussed.

Journalist Simon Phillips has claimed on Si Phillips Talks Chelsea that the Italian never pushed for Disasi’s return to the first team.

Clearly, then, Maresca was not desperate to have the 27-year-old back. However, his treatment at Chelsea has definitely not been fair.

Even during his exile, Disasi has remained professional and been a positive influence on the club’s youngsters.

While a start seems very unlikely, he will now be hoping to make the bench for Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League match against Burnley.

Axel Disasi’s stats under Enzo Maresca

Disasi was not completely overlooked by Maresca in the Chelsea manager’s first season at Stamford Bridge.

Before his loan move to Aston Villa earlier this year, the Frenchman made 17 appearances under Maresca and even got the opportunity to captain Chelsea in the Conference League on more than one occasion.

However, he is going to find it hard to add to that, with Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Josh Acheampong, Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo all above him in the centre-back pecking order right now.

This season, Jorrel Hato has also played in central defence, so you would also expect the Dutch youngster to be picked before Disasi.

With Chelsea still in the Carabao Cup, though, perhaps the France international could get some minutes in that competition. They take on Cardiff City in the quarter-finals next.