Chelsea defender Filipe Luis looks to be on his way back to Atletico Madrid this summer, with manager Jose Mourinho unsatisfied with the Brazilian’s debut campaign at Stamford Bridge. Due to the form of Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back, Luis spent the season on the periphery with the Blues, but was somewhat impressive when given game time, so is he really worth selling?
Luis, 29, set Chelsea back around £15M last summer, and joined with the reputation of being a combative, hard-working fullback who would expertly nullify the threat of the opposition. However, game time alluded him all through the campaign, with the Brazilian ending up making nine Premier League starts in 2014/15. He featured more often in the Champions League and domestic cups, and was on the losing team just once in the games he’d starting in all competitions.
The former Atletico man read the game very well in the Chelsea defence, and had the typical resilience needed to win the ball back from tricky wingers down the left-hand side. Luis put in many good performances, but he never managed to force his way into the starting lineup on a regular basis, which is why Mourinho is selling him back to his old club.
Filipe Luis’ return to the Vicente Calderon will mean Chelsea are in need of a left-back as cover for the new season. Azpilicueta is the Londoners’ first-choice in the backline, and now has no cover should he succumb to injury. It’s thought manager Jose Mourinho will used the Brazilian’s money to sign another full-back, with West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell having interested the Chelsea boss earlier this summer.
Mourinho made a public statement revealing Atletico’a interest in their former defender, and admitted he would sell the left-back if the Spaniards came in with a fair bid. “If (Atletico Madrid) want him back then they have to pay and we have to discuss the offer. (If he leaves) then we have to react and we have to go in the market (and find a replacement).”
The new Premier League season is only weeks away, so it won’t be easy for Chelsea to find a player good enough, but the Blues will have been planning options when speculation rose earlier in the summer. Nevertheless, Filipe Luis had his moments for Chelsea, averaging a tackle or interception every 16 minutes in the Premier League. The Blues are getting back the fee they paid for him, but did he really warrant a sale?
