Chelsea told they’ve loaned out star who can be ‘better than Lionel Messi’ | Football

Chelsea have been told that they have just loaned out a player who ‘has everything to be better than Lionel Messi and Neymar’.

It’s been a busy summer at Stamford Bridge and not just because Enzo Maresca’s side won the Club World Cup.

The Blues have spent over £200million on seven new players, with Jorrel Hato and Xavi Simons also on their way from Ajax and RB Leipzig.

However, one of those signings hasn’t stayed in west London for long, having already been loaned out to Strasbourg, the French club owned by Todd Boehly’s BlueCo group.

Kendry Paez’s move to Chelsea had long been in the works, with the club agreeing to sign him from Independiente del Valle over two years ago when he was just 15-years-old.

Having now turned 18, Paez finally completed the £17m transfer this summer but Maresca believes the attacking midfielder will develop better in Ligue 1 where he can get more game time.

His loan move was confirmed on Thursday – exactly one month after he arrived at Stamford Bridge.

There is much hype surrounding the teenager who already has 18 caps for Ecuador and is the second-youngest South American to play international football behind only the legendary Diego Maradona.

And according to former Ecuador international Carlos Tenorio, Paez could even surpass the greatest of all-time.

‘He has everything to be better than Lionel Messi, better than Neymar, but it depends on him and his entourage,’ the former forward said, as quoted by L’Equipe.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen a player with these characteristics. I think he has everything to become one of the most important players in world football.’

Tenorio also added that it was important not to ‘put pressure’ on the youngster, easier said than done when comparisons to Messi are made.

If Paez can even get close to Messi’s ability, Chelsea will have some player on their hands, with the current Inter Miami star and World Cup winning captain regarded as one of, if not the best footballer of all-time.

In addition, Chelsea have also loaned goalkeeper Mike Penders and defender Mamadou Sarr to Strasbourg, while midfielder Mathis Amougou has moved there in a permanent deal.

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