Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been my favourite Chelsea player for some time now, and I am gutted that he is leaving to join AC Milan, truly gutted.
It’s a great move for him, and I know he will absolutely light it up at Milan, this move right now suits him down to the ground. I’m happy for him, but again, gutted to see that he’s gone.
I’d have actually extended his contract and kept him in our squad, purely because he is so versatile and is perfect for squad depth. I also still think he is a good player.
Whilst he hasn’t been the same player since his serious injury in the pointless friendly in 2019, for me he is always a player that will bring you a lot in this league, purely for his physicality and technical ability.
On his day, in his heydays in 2018, when he absolutely bossed it for England at the World Cup, there wasn’t many better midfielders to watch. He was majestic on the ball and used to glide past players with ease, seeing defenders bouncing off him.
He is a unique player in the sense that he has incredible strength and is well built, but he has super-fast feet and incredible close ball control. There aren’t many players who can dribble with the ball like Ruben can, at least players of his physical stature.
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An academy lad as well of course, which only makes it even more painful. But it’s not like I wasn’t expecting it; it was coming, and it’s best for all parties really even though personally I’d have kept him in our squad. A year left on his contract, he needs to be a regular starter, and he needs to reignite his career.
He certainly hasn’t failed at Chelsea, but in terms of my own expectations of a player, he is the one that got away and the one we never truly got to see the best of for a sustained period.
Ruben has spent the last 19 years at Chelsea, which is simply incredible this day and age. He joined the club academy in 2004, and became a senior in 2014. He went on to make 155 appearances in all competitions for us, scoring 13 goals along the way. It’s certainly not a failed career here.
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I am adamant that if he plays regularly at Milan, then he will get better and better again, and he still has age on his side. I can also see a push back into the England squad, which would be amazing.
I’m always club over any player and that’s how I’ll stay. But Ruben is one rare player who I will be following on his career once he leaves us. He’s been a fantastic Chelsea lad, and I’ll always really enjoy watching him play the game.
Thank you, Rubes and good luck! What could have been….
