Edouard Mendy, the goalie for Chelsea, has returned to training this week, but it’s been little more than a year since he won the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award
Mendy’s contribution to Chelsea’s unexpected Champions League victory as well as his assistance in Senegal’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations victory led to him being voted the best male goalkeeper in the world for 2021.
The 31-year-old, however, hasn’t played at the club level since the World Cup after Kepa Arrizabalaga’s comeback cost him his starting spot at Chelsea early this season. Mendy had finger surgery in early January, and he has only recently been able to practise with the team again. He did so on Tuesday.
At Chelsea this season, a lot has shifted. Since Graham Potter’s appointment in September, Mendy has hardly been available and was even originally benched by the new manager. In November, 90min reported that Mendy had been offered to Tottenham as his future at Stamford Bridge became more and more uncertain.
Come the summer, Mendy will only have two years remaining on his contract. His contract is set to end in 2025, and the club’s new retention policy may compel them to make a decision about his future. The Chelsea ownership would prefer to keep players from reaching the final two years of their contracts, as 90min has revealed this week. The Blues may release any players who don’t want to commit in a possible mass exodus since many players’ contracts expire in 2024.
All of the contracts for Mateo Kovacic, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, and Mason Mount expire in 2024. Thiago Silva, 38, is an exception to the new rule due to his age.
See More:
