Enzo Maresca has slammed the Premier League rules which have seen it become more favourable to sell academy players.
The Chelsea head coach believes it is not a specific problem the Blues suffer and instead a wider issue. Premier League profit and sustainability rules (PSR) have seen clubs in recent seasons work had to remain within the financial confines laid out.
In June, that saw a number clubs choose to sell players developed by their academies ahead of an annual accounting dealine for PSR. The Blues sold Ian Maatsen, with Aston Villa youngster Omari Kellyman heading in the opposite direction, while Everton sold Lewis Dobbin.
Club-developed players are able to be sold for pure profit, allowing for teams to more easily balance the books. Chelsea however, have seen the sales of established players increase dramatically since the arrival of Clearlake Capital.
Conor Gallagher's departure to Atletico Madrid is set to be the latest such move. Lewis Hall, Billy Gilmour, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have all been sold in recent seasons.
Chelsea have actively looked to make such moves by putting the likes of Gallagher up for sale. The club plan to sell defender Trevoh Chalobah after leaving the 25-year-old out of the pre-season tour of the United States. Maresca defended the club however.
“But this is not Chelsea’s problem,” he said.
“These are the rules. All the clubs at this moment are compelled to sell players from the academy because of the rules. It’s all of the Premier League clubs’ problems.”
“I also think the intention of the club is not to sell players from the academy, but it is the rules at the end that you have to do it," he added. "It’s not only us; it’s all the Premier League clubs. It’s a shame because in Italy we have Francesco Totti at Roma, 20 years with the same club.
"A one-club man — we love that in football; the fans want to see that. But with the rules now, it is different from the past."
Opponents to this stance will point out that Chelsea's extravagant business in recent seasons has increased the necessity for the west London side to operate in such away. The Blues have spent in excess of £1billion since the takeover of the club in 2022.
Lavish sums have been spent on young players which could be seen as blocking the academy's progress too. The likes of Kendry Paez, Estevao Willian, Marc Guiu and Andrey Santos among others.
"Yeah, but it is not only Chelsea spending money on players,” Maresca said. “It’s all the big clubs trying to try and buy players. Some of the clubs spend more, some spend less. My personal opinion is it’s a shame because we like to see a one-club man, but the rules are different.”
For Maresca, a rule change is required. “If they want to protect academy players then probably yes,” he said.
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Every organisational body, there needs to be regulations in order to make things Free and Fair. You can expect to retain players and have to keep them forever, players need to move, cash needs to flow, trades and sales have to be done. That’s what makes the sport beautiful, that’s what makes different players even experience another league and competition. Managers should stop complaining and respect the regulations.