Enzo Maresca has confirmed he does not expect new Chelsea signing Mathis Amougou to play an important part this season.
The Blues completed the £12million signing of the 19-year-old French midfielder from Saint-Etienne earlier in the week. After doing the groundwork on transfer deadline day, the west Londoners announced the capture of the highly-rated Amougou on Tuesday.
“Mathis is the same age as Josh [Acheampong], Tyrique [George], Marc Guiu, born 2006,” Maresca replied when asked about the young Frenchman. He’s just 18 and at that age if they’re here it’s because we think they’re good but they could be better.
“With Mathis, it’s more or less the same. We saw he could be a good player but he needs to arrive here, adapt, progress.”
With Romeo Lavia still absent through injury, Chelsea have been left rather short in the midfield department. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo have been relied on heavily throughout the season, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has not been trusted in the Premier League since moving to Stamford Bridge.
Many saw the signing of Amougou, while clearly being one for the future, as another option in the midfield department. However, Maresca does not believe that is the case right now and expects him to have an insignificant role with the club this season.
“We didn’t sign him thinking he’s going to play an important part with us,” Maresca said on Amougou. “The reason why is because of the age and we need the process. The reason we signed him is because we think he’s a good player and in some moment after a while, we think he can help us.”
Amougou is the latest young talent to switch France for west London with the midfielder penning an eight-year contract at Stamford Bridge. “I’m very happy,” said the midfielder after the deal was confirmed.
“It’s an honour for me to sign for such a big club like Chelsea. They believe in young players and the process they have in place to develop us is fantastic.”
