Axel Disasi has hinted at a possible permanent exit from Chelsea this summer after describing his last six months at Stamford Bridge as "bad."
The French defender, who arrived from AS Monaco for £39 million in 2023, is currently on loan at Aston Villa, having secured a late move on transfer deadline day.
Although he was a regular under Mauricio Pochettino in his first season, Disasi struggled for game time under Enzo Maresca, starting just five of Chelsea's 23 Premier League matches before his loan switch.
His performances also drew criticism from fans and pundits, including former midfielder-turned-TalkSPORT analyst Jason Cundy, who labeled him "sloppy" and "too passive" in December.
In a recent interview with the Express & Star, Disasi reflected on his struggles under Maresca, drawing parallels to an early career challenge at Reims, where he had to fight for his place.
“The last six months when I did not play because it was the choice of the manager, or an injury, whatever, this kind of period, from my past, I already have it," he explained.
“The way I came out from it in the past, I use it now when I have bad periods like the past six months. It is just about experience and keep going," he added. "One day your chance will come and you have to take it."
Determined to make the most of his opportunity at Villa, Disasi suggested that his Chelsea future remains uncertain.
“They have brought me here to help and I am ready," he said. "For the moment, I am just here to play for the six months, but at the end of that, you never know. We’ll see what happens.”
Should Chelsea sell Axel Disasi?
Everything Chelsea says...
We have a feeling most Chelsea fans would have a straightforward answer to this question – and it would be a resounding "yes."
However, it's not quite that simple.
A significant part of Disasi's struggles at Chelsea stem from being played out of position at right-back – a role that doesn’t suit his skill set. Lacking the pace, mobility, and technical ability required for the position, he has often looked uncomfortable.
When deployed in his natural role at centre-back, however, he has, at times, proven his quality. Take the 1-1 draw against Liverpool on the opening day of last season – he not only scored Chelsea's only goal but was also the standout player on the pitch.
Or his commanding display against Manchester City, which earned high praise from Jamie Carragher. The Liverpool legend described his performance as "brilliant" and even likened him to Chelsea great John Terry.
A loan move to Villa makes sense given his lack of game time, but with Chelsea continuing to struggle defensively in his absence, Maresca may come to realize that, with a consistent run of games and a boost in confidence, the French international could still have a role to play.
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