Chelsea brutally leave summer signing out of Champions League squad | Football

Chelsea have left new signing Facundo Buonanotte out of their Champions League squad.

The Argentina international spent last season on loan at Leicester City from Brighton and was poised to join Leeds United in the final weeks of the summer transfer window.

Chelsea swooped late on however, paying £2million to sign the 20-year-old on a season-long loan deal.

He arrived alongside his countryman Alejandro Garnacho who joined from Manchester United in a £40m deal.

Garnacho has been included in the Champions League squad which will begin the European campaign away to Bayern Munich on 17 September, ending away to Napoli on 28 January.

But there is no room for Buonanotte in the group with head coach Enzo Maresca leaving him out.

Chelsea will be permitted to make changes to their squad following the initial league phase of the competition and before the knockout stages.

The signing of the Argentine, Chelsea’s 10^th of the summer, raised eyebrows given the depth the club currently boast in attack.

Rather awkwardly, Buonanotte revealed his excitement over playing in the Champions League in his first official interview with the club’s website just days ago.

‘It’s a great step in my career,’ he said. ‘’I’m really happy to be here and ready to offer as much as I can to the team and the staff. I’m sure it will be a positive season.

‘Of course, I’ll get the opportunity to play in the Champions League for the first time, which will be a great challenge. I’m really looking forward to this season and hopefully I can help the club to achieve its goals.’

With Chelsea missing out on Xavi Simons who instead joined rivals Tottenham, Buonanotte will hope to provide competition for Cole Palmer in the no10 role in domestic games.

Palmer has missed Chelsea’s last two games after pulling out of the starting XI ahead of kick-off against West Ham United with a groin problem.

Palmer was left out last Saturday against Fulham having also been left out of the England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

MORE: Injured Arsenal star left out of Champions League squad by Mikel Arteta

MORE: West Ham star Lucas Paqueta in talks to sue the Football Association

MORE: Argentina boss sends message to Emiliano Martinez after failed Man Utd transfer