Chelsea Football Club has made the surprising decision to leave their new signing, Facundo Buonanotte, out of their Champions League squad. The 20-year-old Argentine international was acquired in a late swoop during the summer transfer window for £2 million on a season-long loan deal.
Buonanotte spent his previous season on loan at Leicester City from Brighton and was set to join Leeds United in the final weeks of the summer transfer window. However, Chelsea intervened at the last minute, securing him for their team instead.
The young player arrived alongside fellow Argentine Alejandro Garnacho who joined from Manchester United in a £40m deal. Unlike Buonanotte, Garnacho has been included in the Champions League squad which is set to begin its European campaign away against Bayern Munich on 17 September and end away against Napoli on 28 January.
Head coach's decision raises eyebrows
The exclusion of Buonanotte by head coach Enzo Maresca has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike. This move comes despite Chelsea being allowed to make changes to their squad following the initial league phase of competition and before entering into knockout stages.
Buonanotte’s signing marked Chelsea’s tenth acquisition over summer - an interesting move considering that they already boast considerable depth in attack positions.
Potential role for Buonanotte
With Chelsea missing out on Xavi Simons who instead joined rivals Tottenham Hotspur, there are expectations that Buonanotte will provide competition for Cole Palmer in domestic games for the no10 role.
Palmer recently missed two games due to pulling out ahead of kick-off against West Ham United with a groin problem. He was also left out last Saturday against Fulham as well as being excluded from England's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. In light of these developments, Buonanotte's role in the team could potentially increase. However, his exclusion from the Champions League squad suggests that he may have to prove his worth in domestic games before being given a chance on the European stage.
The decision to leave Buonanotte out of Chelsea's Champions League squad is indeed surprising and has sparked discussions among sports fans and betting enthusiasts alike. It remains to be seen how this move will impact both the player and Chelsea's performance in upcoming matches.
