Chelsea are continuing to bolster new manager Enzo Maresca’s squad after the Italian’s arrival earlier this month signalled a new era at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have already made their first foray into the transfer market this summer last week when they confirmed the signing of Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo whose contract had run out at Craven Cottage, meaning he arrived on a free.
Now they’ve apparently found their second signing, although he won’t be at Maresca’s disposal straight away. Brazilian wonderkid Pedro Lima is the latest South American teenager to be scouted and secured by the Blues since new owner Todd Boehly imposed his project on the club that prioritises youth talent above all else.
It’s understood Chelsea have won a close race for the 17-year-old right-back having agreed to pay €7.5m (£6.3m) plus €3m (£2.5m), with the Sport Recife star set to go straight to Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, another club that Boehly’s consortium BlueCo became the majority shareholders of last year.
Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel and midfielder Andrey Santos were sent by the Blues to Strasbourg on loan to help in their development, with Maresca said to hold interest in introducing Santos to Premier League football this season as part of the first team.
But as Lima arrives in England before a quick move to France, his compatriot and Wolves striker Matheus Cunha has revealed that he initially wanted the youngster to sign for Gary O’Neil’s side, and tried to convince him to reject Chelsea in favour of a move to Molineux.
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“Pedro Lima is a talent, he has a bright future. He is from Paraiba who comes to Recife and has a very similar story to me. I wish him the best,” Cunha told Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. “I wanted him to be playing with me because I think Wolves were also interested. But he made his decision, Chelsea is a great club and I hope he plays and I hope to play against him often.
“We can talk a little on the field, try to exchange shirts, but of course, wishing him all the best, he is a boy who deserves it, who fought for it and thank God it started. May it be a bright future for him. I think he leaves here at a time where he has a big spotlight, he is a boy who has a very big projection, that everyone expects a lot from him, but things don’t always happen the way we think they should happen.
“He has to have a lot of patience to enjoy the process, he needs to continue like this so that he gets there and achieves things because one thing is here, another is there, another level.
“And he needs to have humility to recognise the moments of doubt, difficulties, which when you leave here are great. And may he have a lot of patience to reach the highest level of football. And may everything go well for him, as he is someone we will be rooting for a lot.”
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
