"In this moment" – Maresca shares honest opinion on Mudryk going to Saudi Arabia to watch the boxing
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Enzo Maresca believes Mykhailo Mudryk's trip to Saudi Arabia to watch Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk was good for him to disconnect from his current situation.
Mudryk is provisionally suspended after a drug test he took in October came back positive for a banned substance, although Maresca had stated previously his absence was due to illness.
The winger isn't allowed at Chelsea's Cobham training ground with the club and Maresca doing everything they can to support the 23-year-old who has hired the same lawyers who represented Paul Pogba.
Maresca on Mudryk going to the boxing
It's the latest chapter in what has been a really difficult time for the Ukraine international following his move from Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial £62.5m in January 2023.
Mudryk has struggled to establish himself in the first team, although he had started to show signs of improvement this season, especially in the Conference League.
Competition for places in the wide areas is fierce, especially following the arrival of Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto in the summer, whilst Estevao Willian is set to join up with the Blues after the Club World Cup in 2025.
Mudryk is still awaiting results of his B sample to come back before the next steps are taken and is clearly going through a difficult time.
The Ukrainian was spotted in Riyadh over the weekend watching the boxing between Fury and fellow countryman Usyk, with Maresca asked on his thoughts about the trip ahead of Chelsea's Boxing Day clash with Fulham.
"It's good for him to disconnect from the situation in this moment (going to boxing). Last time we spoke I tried to support him, now we are waiting," he told his pre-match press conference.
It's currently unknown when Mudryk will return to a football pitch and Chelsea have provided him with a plan to stay fit whilst the process takes place, but in a worst case scenario it could be possible he's played his final game for the club.
