Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso takes huge transfer gamble days before taking charge
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But he may be making a significant blunder by allowing Richard Olise to depart when his contract expires.The younger Olise brother spent a decade in the Chelsea academy without making a first-team appearance. He did earn a place on the bench during Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Astana in the Conference League in 2024/25, which entitled him to a winner's medal when the Blues lifted the trophy.The 21-year-old will now move on as a free agent.
Latest Blues news and more on our dedicated Facebook pageThe elder Olise sibling endured a similar experience back in 2014 when he was released by the Blues as a youngster after spending seven years in the academy without breaking through to the first team. The then-14-year-old moved to Manchester City's youth set-up before joining Reading, where he made his senior bow at 17 against Leeds United.Chelsea would come to rue their decision to part ways with Olise, as he has grown into one of Europe's most coveted talents.
He has racked up 96 goal contributions in 107 outings for Bayern and also rejected the chance to return to Chelsea in 2023.Olise was presented with the opportunity to rejoin the Blues before his move to Germany, but they were unable to tempt the superstar winger back.While Richard operates in a different position to his brother, featuring at either left or right-back, he may emulate his brother by carving out a stellar career after departing west London.Only time will tell whether he can match his sibling's career path but Alonso could be left regretting his error if he comes anywhere close to replicating the Bayern star's trajectory.Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass 'designed for football'This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.