Romano exclusive explains surprising Chelsea signing who can play 3 positions
07/06/2024 08:52 AM
When we heard last night that Chelsea were closing in on a deal for Renato Veiga, it was surprising on a few counts.
Firstly because we hadn't heard anything about links to the FC Basel man. It's almost impossible for a move to be completed these days without everyone knowing months in advance, but somehow the Blues pulled it off here.
The other surprise element was that it didn't seem like a player or profile Chelsea were really looking at. They'd replaced the departing Thiago Silva at the back with Tosin Adarabioyo, and it wasn't clear where Veiga would fit in.
Things weren't clarified by his position either – the left footed defender can also play in midfield. So where does he fit in at Chelsea? Or is he being bought just so he can be loaned and potentially sold for a profit?
Fabrizio Romano – who had missed the clues on this transfer until he revealed last night that it was almost done, had the information. Instead of buying him to play as cover at left back, or centre back, or as an anchor man, it looks like Veiga is being bought to provide all 3.
Romano himself described it as a "key detail": "#CFC see him playing as left back, centre back and midfielder."
More details on exclusive Renato Veiga story. Chelsea sign 2003 talent for €14m fee, there will be NO sell-on clause or add-ons.
Veiga will undergo medical and sign in the next hours, deal done.
Key detail: #CFC see him playing as left back, centre back and midfielder. pic.twitter.com/L8SDFXWElk
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 5, 2024
A useful piece in Chelsea's developing squad
It still leaves us a little crowded in defence, but that's no bad thing. Our current versatile king at the back is Trevoh Chalobah, who plays a little like a right footed Veiga. This surely is another step towards the exit for him.
Veiga then looks unlikely to be loaned to Strasbourg or anywhere else, and in fact is another piece to be fitted into the first team jigsaw puzzle.
