Frank Lampard allowed Fikayo Tomori to leave Chelsea and join AC Milan because he had become worried over the defender’s dip in quality, according to The Athletic.
The 23-year-old joined Milan on loan in January, having been frozen out by his former manager.
Inside sources described that the Lampard had grown concerned over Tomori’s levels in training and that he’d developed doubts of his aerial prowess.
Tomori made just four appearances for Chelsea before he set sail to Italy. His only Premier League action was a 45-minute spell against Liverpool on the 20th of September.
He has already played the same amount of games for Milan despite being there for less than a month.
His debut couldn’t have arrived in a more significant fixture. Tomori was brought on after just 20 minutes in the Coppa Italia quarter-final against Inter Milan, four days on from his arrival at the San Siro.
AC lost the game 2-1, but their loanee rose to the occasion fantastically. Stefano Pioli has since started him twice in Serie A as the Chelsea academy graduate begins to settle into his new surroundings.
Chelsea fans will be delighted to see one of their own performing so well across the continent.
What won’t please them is the fact Lampard let him leave so abruptly.
He didn’t improve matters after stating in a press conference that ‘there is an absolute long-term plan for Fikayo about his career here’ (Chelsea website).
Within the space of two weeks after that statement, Lampard lost his job and Tomori took flight from London.
Thomas Tuchel may have a differing opinion on the situation and decides he does want the young centre-back as part of his Chelsea squad next season.
But if Tomori continues in this vain of form, it is highly likely Milan will execute their right to secure his signature permanently for £25m (BBC Sport).
The Chelsea Chronicle View
I guess there is an argument to say that it would be expected for a player’s performances to drop if they were being excluded from the team.
A man of Tomori’s talent deserves to featuring regularly, which just wasn’t the case at Chelsea.
As saddening as it is to say, I don’t think he’ll be a Blue next campaign.
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