Reece James and several other Chelsea players have reacted to goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli’s signing a new three-year contract with the club.
Bettinelli‘s previous deal would have expired at the end of the season and many expect him to leave the club on a free transfer.
As a third-choice goalkeeper, behind both Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga, he has understandably played a very limited role in the team.
His debut, in the 5-1 FA Cup third-round win over Chesterfield last year, is also his only competitive appearance for Chelsea so far.
So, it came as a surprise to many that Chelsea confirmed the former Fulham goalkeeper has signed a new deal that ties him to the club until 2026.
“It is a privilege to be at a club like Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and a couple of years ago when I signed I was delighted to be here, delighted to sign,” Bettinelli told Chelsea’s official website when speaking about his extended stay.
“To be here now and see the club going through this transition and seeing what we are developing, it is amazing to be a part of and I am buzzing to be here for an extra couple of years.”
In fairness, it is not hard to see why Chelsea decided to keep the goalkeeper.
Aside from his professionalism, his homegrown status can only be helpful in European competitions.
He is also a popular figure in the dressing room, as shown by his teammates’ reactions to the news.
“Ma boyy, the coffee club continues @marcusbettinelli,” James wrote in an Instagram story.
Mason Mount, Marc Cucurella, and Kai Havertz also showed their support with emojis in the comment section of Chelsea’s Instagram post.
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