Trevoh Chalobah was eight when he walked into Chelsea’s academy. He was 27 when he walked out, 151 senior appearances and a Conference League winner’s medal later.
“I’d been there since I was eight, and I wanted to be a legend there, but sometimes the way we plan things is not how things work out,” he told The Athletic ahead of his first Champions League night with Como.
The sale was completed on 9 August: £25.7m upfront, up to £5.1m more in add-ons, five-year deal.
‘Chelsea means everything to me’
The cord is not cut. The matches still go on his screen, the group chats still ping.
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“Chelsea means everything to me. I’m still watching the games, keeping in contact with the players and staff.”
He pushed back on the idea that his last season at Stamford Bridge had been a bad one.
“The team didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve last season, but I thought I had one of my best seasons, playing the most games and scoring a few goals.”
The pragmatism that followed is the one every academy graduate learns.
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“As footballers, you’ve always got to be ready to adapt. You could be here one moment, then the next moment you’re somewhere else.”
Fabregas built the exit ramp
The man on the other end of the phone was Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea’s former midfielder and now Como’s head coach. Fabregas steered Como to a fourth-place Serie A finish last season, earning the club a first Champions League qualification and a Coach of the Year award for himself.
The pitch did not sound like a step down.
“The manager reached out to me over the summer and explained the project and where he saw me playing. I read about the rise of Como, how exciting the team is. He really wanted me and my experience. That felt good and it was time for a change.”
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A loan spell at Lorient during his Chelsea years meant a second move abroad was less daunting than it might have been.
“As a footballer, it’s good to experience different things and it was an easy decision to come abroad again. The football is amazing. The manager we have is great.”
A reunion with Mount by the lake
Como host Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia tonight, kick-off 6:45pm local time, for matchday three of the Champions League league phase.
Mason Mount, Chalobah’s academy team-mate at Cobham before both broke into Chelsea’s first team, will line up for United. The two have been in contact in the build-up.
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“Massive game for us. United are a massive club. Our stadium is small but atmospheric. It’s right by the lake; it’s beautiful.”
Como lost 3-2 at Feyenoord on matchday two after a 4-1 opening-night win against RB Leipzig; United arrive on a six-match winless run across all competitions.
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