‘Chelsea asking for trouble’ – Ziyech slams ludicrous transfer policy

Imre Himmelbauer

1 Dec 2023 07:56 CST
3 min read

Hakim Ziyech has claimed Chelsea are “asking for trouble” with their transfer policy.

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The Galatasaray star completed a move to Turkey in the summer, having been frustrated in a previous attempt to move to PSG, and hit the headlines earlier this week as his double helped the Turks secure a 3-3 Champions League draw against Manchester United.

Ziyech says that his patience at Stamford Bridge ran out due to Chelsea’s large squad.

“A squad with 40 players for one team, that is simply way too many and is asking for trouble,” he revealed to Voetbal International.

“We had enough players for three top teams. At a certain point, your patience runs out. Like last year, after I returned from the World Cup with Morocco, where we, and myself, had played very well.

“Then they said again: 'You have to be patient.' But it ends at some point. I am happy that I have ended it and am now playing at a great club.”

Indeed, Ziyech was left unimpressed by Chelsea, in part due to the breakdown of his move to PSG due to administrative blunders when he was already in the offices of the Parc des Princes side.

“Pff, Chelsea, we can talk about that for a long time. But the conclusion is that it did not turn out as we had hoped,” he explained. “It was a period full of coaching changes, bickering with the club management, a departure to Paris Saint-Germain that did not happen at the last minute and it was disappointing in terms of football.”

Ziyech wanted Ajax return

Ziyech had initially targeted a move to Ajax in 2022i but is now with Galatasaray, who have an option to buy him next summer.

“I wanted to help Ajax, I would have liked to go back, but they only wanted to loan me and not buy me,” he explained. “Well, that's the end of it. When I go to a club, I want to go for it with full dedication and I have to feel that feeling from both sides.”

“With a loan deal, it is temporary and you miss that feeling. Moreover, I also thought it was a lack of respect for what we have experienced together at Ajax. It's a shame because I had definitely considered returning to Amsterdam, for sure.”

Ziyech has played only 10 times for Galatasaray but has scored four goals for his new club.