Assane Diao - Why Real Betis winger would be one of Chelsea's best buys of the Boehly era
Jacque Talbot
- Updated: 24 Nov 2023 09:17 GMT
- 6 min read
Real Betis winger Assane Diao fits the Chelsea mold in many respects.
The youngster is conducive to the club’s current philosophy of bringing in some of the brightest young talent in the world - he is just that, a huge talent making waves in La Liga this season.
At just 18 years old, Diao has bounds of potential, so naturally, he has already piqued the interest of some of Europe's elite clubs.
Diao, originally hailing from Senegal, relocated to Spain at the age of three, establishing roots in the city of Badajoz near the Portuguese border. After honing his skills in various youth teams in and around Cadiz, he found his way not too far away in south Spain at the Real Betis youth academy in 2021. From there, it's been a rapid rise.
Diao initially joined the club as a midfielder but is now found in a new playing role, featuring across the front three. Manuel Pellegrini typically deploys him primarily as a right winger, but he can also be found through the middle and even on the left wing when needed.
The Betis boss has spoken about Diao's huge ability at such a young age, and how he has answered every challenge handed to him. He said: “I’m very happy for him. He’s a player we followed. He responded and scored two goals in two games. He has speed, power. Whether he continues with the first team or not is entirely up to him. He’s taking advantage of the opportunities and I hope he makes the most of them for as long as possible."
How well has Diao done this season?
Diao has made four goal contributions in ten games at the time of writing. With such efficiency, it’s no wonder Mauricio Pochettino has his eyes set on the teenager.
Indeed, Chelsea have Noni Madueke as their only right-winger, though Cole Palmer has played in that spot when he does not occupy the middle of the pitch, as a No.10. It's an area they drastically need bolstering - and Diao fits the bill. He is every bit a modern-day attacker - not only in his positional versatility but also in that he possesses a high volume of defence actions, particularly when it comes to turnovers in the final third. Statistically, at least, Diao draws very similar numbers to Antony Gordon at Newcastle this season, but perhaps even more clinical in front of goal.
If the club are to put most of their funds towards a world-class No.9, a deal for Diao would make a lot of sense. In the day and age of overspending, here is a huge talent that would fit Chelsea's right-side issue, their lack of goals, and with a release clause of just £26milllion.
