Enzo Maresca reveals reason for Trevoh Chalobah pre-season tour snub

Enzo Maresca has explained his decision to exclude academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea's pre-season squad for a tour of the United States.

New Blues boss Maresca made the unpopular decision to leave the centre-back out of his travelling squad for upcoming friendlies against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Wrexham - claiming that the fight for a place in Chelsea's defence knocked Chalobah down the pecking order.

The decision is said to have come as a surprise to the 25-year-old, who enjoyed a successful run in the team towards the end of last season after battling a long-term injury.

Speaking in his first pre-season press conference, Maresca made sure to address the concerns regarding Chalobah, and explained his decision to omit the player from the squad.

"First of all, from my point of view, it's always sad to leave players out," he told reporters. "That can be out of a pre-season, or can be out of the squad or out of the first eleven because in the end they all work for the same target, that is to be part of the same team.

"The Trevoh situation for me is quite clear, we have Axel [Disasi] there, we have Tosin [Adarabioyo] there, we have Wesley [Fofana] who in these two weeks has worked very good and is finally back, we have some very young profiles like Josh Acheampong who is doing fantastic.

"It's a sad decision but we have to take the decision."

Chalobah represents pure profit for Chelsea, as an academy graduate, and a potential sale has been the topic of conversation for at least 12 months. To date, he has been committed to the club's cause, showing little desire to want to leave Stamford Bridge, but this latest setback may pique the interest of potential suitors.

A £25m valuation has been previously touted for Chalobah, whose contract at Chelsea has four years left to run with a 12-month option, but it remains to be seen whether any interested party will look to make an offer.

As for Chelsea's tour of the US, a game against Ryan Reynolds-owned Wrexham gets things underway before a clash with Scottish Premiership champions Celtic - they overcame Manchester City in a seven-goal thriller on Tuesday night.

The Blues will also face City – their opponents on the first day of the Premier League season – and 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid, before travelling home to host Inter.

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