The Christoph Freund to Chelsea situation was a crazy one.
Every top source in the business was reporting that Freund was set to join Chelsea from RB Salzburg as a sporting director, and we all assumed it was a done deal. Well, it pretty much WAS a done deal. He agreed to join Chelsea and accepted the terms. Yet there we were, just one day later reading a statement from Freund saying he will be staying at Salzburg.
I guess only he knows what happened and why it happened. But Fabrizio Romano has done his best to explain the situation on his end, in his latest Substack newsletter today.
He also explains that despite the Freund situation, Chelsea continue to search for an alternative to take the role and they are in contact with many other candidates already.
“It was a very big surprise as a deal between Freund and Chelsea was 100% agreed on Sunday afternoon,” Romano explained.
“Both parties were ready to sign contracts this week on a five year deal but then it collapsed because Red Bull group bosses wanted to keep Freund as important part of the project.
“It was an incredible situation, changed in 24 hours – so it’s a big blow but at same point Chelsea are already in contact with other candidates, more than one. The race is open.”
The search will continue now for Chelsea, but concerns will be now whether they can get the right one in before January.
