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Former Blues star has told Maresca to sign World Cup winner.
Following Chelsea's somewhat subdued but ultimately successful 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC in their FIFA Club World Cup opener, former Blues player Florent Malouda has urged his old club to target a "World Cup winning star" to inject much-needed experience into their youthful squad.
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The match, played in front of a relatively sparse crowd of 22,000, saw Chelsea secure three points thanks to a Nicolas Jackson assist for Pedro Neto's opener, followed by new signing Liam Delap providing a superb assist for Enzo Fernandez to score.
While the goals provided a positive start, Malouda's comments highlight a perceived imbalance in Chelsea's current roster.
What Malouda said
Malouda has long advocated for a more balanced approach to Chelsea's squad building, emphasising the need for experienced, proven players to complement the club's youth-centric model.
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He said, "I have said for three years now that this young Chelsea team would benefit more by adding one or two more experienced and proven players in key areas on the pitch, and if we had done that I genuinely believe we would have had a better last couple of seasons.
He continued, “I like the youth model, but it needed to be more balanced along the way in my view. Youth-led, fine, but not youth-only."
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While acknowledging that his specific recommendation might be surprising to some, Malouda publicly told Chelsea to sign Paul Pogba.
"I think Chelsea need an experienced player and Pogba has won the World Cup, the Europa League and knows the Premier League so well. Honestly, I think he belongs in the Premier League," Malouda asserted.
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"He has been resilient in his career and in his private life, he will want to get to the top and his experience would be so valuable. All he does is overcome challenges and with Chelsea, I think he could adjust very well to their dressing room," Malouda concluded.
Paul Pogba is currently a free agent after his contract with Juventus ended in December 2024. He recently completed an 18-month doping ban in March 2025.
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10:28 - 17.06.2025
Where are the fans? — Chelsea boss Maresca reacts to 'strange' Club World Cup opener against LAFC
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was delighted with his team's 2-0 win against LAFC in their Club World Cup opener, but admitted the match was played in a strange environment.
Pogba's trophy cabinet includes a 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, a UEFA Nations League title, a Europa League title with Manchester United (2016-17), two English League Cups, and four Serie A titles with Juventus, alongside multiple Italian cups and Super Cups.
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