Maresca finally reveals who made the call on Madueke’s Chelsea exit

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has broken his silence on who was behind Noni Madueke’s shock move to Arsenal.

Madueke is set to join Arsenal in a £52 million deal, with personal terms already agreed and a formal announcement expected any moment.

The transfer caught Chelsea fans by surprise, especially with the 23-year-old featuring regularly last season and starring in the club’s Conference League victory over Real Betis.

But Maresca has now confirmed that the decision to leave wasn’t made by the club.

“Noni decided to leave. Nobody told Noni he had to leave,” Maresca told reporters on Friday. “If he is happy, we are happy.”

The winger had been part of Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad but left camp to finalise his move to the Gunners. He was benched during the semi-final clash against Fluminense, with insiders claiming the manager was concerned about his mindset and focus.

Maresca, who has been vocal about only wanting players who are fully committed, had already hinted that anyone unhappy at the club was free to go.

“My message is clear — I only want players that are happy to be with us,” he said.

Despite playing behind Bukayo Saka in his favoured position at Arsenal, Madueke is expected to fight for minutes and may also be deployed on the left, where he’s featured recently.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are moving forward with plans to integrate Estevao Willian, the 18-year-old Brazilian wonderkid who recently impressed against the Blues and plays in a similar role.

Madueke joined Chelsea in 2023 and was seen as part of the club’s long-term project. But in the end, it was his decision to walk away.