"I didn't understand it" – Ex-academy director can't fathom why player was allowed to join Chelsea this summer
Yesterday at 02:00 AM
Former Barcelona academy director Xavi Vilajoana can't understand why Marc Guiu was allowed to join Chelsea in the summer.
The Blues signed the 18-year-old striker from Barcelona after activating the €6m release clause, in what was very much an opportunistic move.
The teenager was clearly convinced by the Chelsea project and although he's going to have to be patient and bide his time, Guiu has impressed when he's played.
Ex-Barcelona academy director can't believe Guiu was allowed to leave the club
Guiu clearly has a lot of potential, but as expected he's very raw and still has a lot of developing to do but the early signs look promising.
The Spaniard has only featured once in the Premier League, but he's appeared in all six Conference League games where the majority of his minutes have come from.
Guiu has impressed in the competition scoring six goals, including a hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers and two goals against Astana.
Joe Cole was impressed with the striker against the Irish side and Guiu can't be far away from getting more opportunities in the league.
The striker came through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy and former academy director Vilajoana can't believe they let him leave the club.
"I didn't understand it. I would have done everything possible to keep him," he told AS as cited on X.com.
"It was obvious that he had a lot of things to improve, but he had a goal-scoring ability. He was the type of player who would have developed and improved very quickly here.
For a centre forward who shows his face in the youth team and we don't make an effort to keep him.?"
Barcelona's loss is certainly looking like Chelsea's gain and it's very much a win win situation for the Blues because if he develops into a top player they have got themselves an absolute bargain, or if it doesn't work out they are in line to make a substantial profit.
Guiu's next action isn't likely to be until the FA Cup third round tie against Morecambe in January, with no Conference League football until March.
