Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, wey be 16-year-old Australian boy, fit make im senior Chelsea debut for Accor Stadium on Tuesday night as Chelsea go face Western Sydney Wanderers for di first of two pre-season matches wey be part of Sydney Super Cup. E be like say di homecoming go be fairytale, but those wey dey dream of seeing am for Socceroos jersey no go get happy ending.
Di midfielder, wey im mama be Australian and im papa reportedly come from near di border of Sudan and Chad, don dey called ‘next Jude Bellingham’ by The Sun. The Athletic don report say e go sign im first professional contract when e turn 17 for January, after e reject opportunities to join other top European teams to stay for Chelsea, where e don train since e be six years old.
Last season, Nicoll-Jazuli become di youngest Chelsea player to start a match for UEFA Youth League, and e don already dey involved for first-team training under Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior. Im inclusion for Chelsea squad for Australia tour show how new boss Xabi Alonso rate am, as Alonso talk on Monday say im dey blown away by di quality of academy talent.
But sources for Football Australia don resign to fact say Nicoll-Jazuli go probably remain out of reach for Socceroos. Tug-of-war don already start between England, wey e don play for at under-16 and under-17 level, and France, one of di four nations wey e fit represent. Unlike many dual nationals wey Socceroos don successfully court for recent years, Nicoll-Jazuli leave Australia at young age, so Football Australia anticipate say e no go feel strong emotional pull towards green and gold, though e still dey on dia monitoring lists.
Nicoll-Jazuli start for Chelsea for behind-closed-doors friendly against Crawley Town last month, but Tuesday’s clash against Wanderers fit be di first time e go line up for senior match open to public eyes. Alonso, wey no know about im Australian heritage until Blues touch down for Sydney, dey happy to talk up di player wey dem see as jewel of di club’s academy.
‘I was informed yesterday say e born for Sydney, so e be surprise,’ Alonso talk. ‘But e be one of those talented players wey dey come from academy. I really impressed with am. E fit pass short, e fit dribble for middle, so e don make good impression so far. E be talent wey we need to help, we need to develop because e get special qualities wey you no dey see often from 16-year-old guy. I no know if e get Australian passport, but e go be tough for am to choose for future.’
Players wey dia country reach deep for World Cup dem allow to skip Sydney Super Cup, so Chelsea squad no get new signing Morgan Rogers, im England teammate Reece James, and Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernandez, wey play for World Cup final. Blues don spend $223 million to lure Rogers from Aston Villa, a record fee for English player. E go join im new teammates after di tournament.
‘For sure e be great signing,’ Alonso talk for im first public comments since Rogers signing confirm. ‘For that position we need important player, and I sure say there no be many better options than Morgan, so we dey delighted. E mean a lot for everyone and for players wey already dey here as well; dem get good feeling, and I dey look forward to having am for few weeks. We want to build competitive team; for sure we dey for process, we get great quality, great talent, and we need to know wetin e take to compete for Premier League. We dey start new season with good energy; that one go important.’
