Chelsea don’t know how to handle ‘Ferrari’ player, says his former club’s chief

Chelsea don’t know how to handle ‘Ferrari’ Mykhailo Mudryk, says Shakhtar Donetsk chief general director Sergiy Palkin.

Mudryk moved to Chelsea from Shakhtar in a deal worth £89,000,000 in January 2023 but the Ukraine international has flopped since that big-money transfer.

The 23-year-old winger has produced just seven goals and seven assists across his opening 66 games for Chelsea in what has been a disappointing spell so far.

But Mudryk – spotted watching Arsenal’s Champions League match against Shakhtar on Tuesday night – is simply being used incorrectly, according to Palkin.

‘You don’t need a Ferrari if you don’t know how to drive it,’ the Shakhtar chief told GOAL.

‘A normal car will do. If you buy a Ferrari, you should think about how to handle it. That’s my opinion on Mudryk at Chelsea.

‘I am sure that he will show his qualities when he gets the chance. He is an absolute difference maker.

‘[That can] be seen in his appearances for the Ukrainian national team. There are very few players in this category.’ 

Mudryk warned Chelsea fans over their ‘expectations’ for him in the 2024-25 campaign this summer.

Chelsea supporters are keen to see Mudryk reach his full potential, especially given he is under contact until 2031.

Meanwhile, Georgiy Sudakov, who plays for the Ukraine national team with Mudryk, feels the Chelsea star has the ‘qualities’ to win the Ballon d’Or one day.

‘Mykhailo is an incredible player, he has no upper limit and he can win the Ballon d’Or with his qualities,’ Sudakov told The Guardian.

‘But everything depends only on him. I believe he will be able to show his best qualities. Ukraine is an incredibly talented country and he is a great example for us to follow.’