Mykhailo Mudryk named 'the most talented and unique player in the world'

Cameron Smith

• 27 Feb 2024 18:49 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk has been named “the most talented and unique player in the world” by Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Serhiy Palkan.

Mudryk, 23, joined the Blues for an initial €70 million from Shakhtar in January 2023, but his first 12 months at Stamford Bridge have been hugely underwhelming.

The Ukraine international has scored just four goals in 43 appearances for Chelsea, while he has fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks. Mudryk has only started in two of Chelsea’s past 11 matches, and he has mustered just 239 minutes of action from a possible 990 in 2024.

Chelsea fans were incredibly excited by Mudryk’s arrival last year, after the Blues hijacked Arsenal’s deal to sign him, but things have quickly turned sour and Mauricio Pochettino clearly doesn’t favour the 23-year-old.

Despite this, Shakhtar CEO Palkan still believes Mudryk will become a star in the future.

’Mykhailo Mudryk is the most talented and unique player in the world’

Palkan told beIN Sports (via The Evening Standard): “I can tell you that, for me, Mudryk is the most talented and unique player in the world.

“I believe that in order to get the maximum from Mudryk, as they anticipate, you need to invest in him. And these investments are not money.

“The investment is time with the coaching staff to communicate with him and to work closely with him. Because he is a young boy, he changed from the Ukrainian Championship for the English Premier League.

“It’s a completely different world, with completely different levels, with football that’s completely different. I believe that if the coaching staff dedicates some time to him, he will return three, four or five times more.”

Despite Palkan’s faith in Mudryk, it’s hard to believe the Ukrainian is “the most talented player in the world” given he isn’t a regular starter in a Chelsea team currently 11th in the Premier League.

Furthermore, Mudryk has been unconvincing in almost every one of his appearances for the Blues, while he ranks as the west London club’s 19th best current player according to data analytics experts SciSports.

In addition, 84 players have racked up more than Mudryk’s five goal contributions in the Premier League so far this season.

The Ukrainian evidently has bundles of talent, with his pace a huge asset, but he remains a diamond in the rough and he simply hasn’t done enough to justify a regular starting spot in Chelsea’s team. As a result, the Blues have seen very little in regards to reward on their vast investment into Mudryk.