Carles Puyol, the iconic former Barcelona player, has expressed his belief in Moises Caicedo’s potential to achieve significant milestones with Chelsea due to his exceptional ‘quality and talent’.
After a transfer from Brighton to Stamford Bridge that turned heads with its whopping £115m fee last summer, the Ecuadorian midfielder’s initial season hasn’t quite met expectations.
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Despite spending just two seasons with Brighton, Caicedo made a name for himself as a top-tier holding midfielder in the Premier League, drawing attention from major clubs including Liverpool and Chelsea.
At 22 years old, Caicedo has had moments of brilliance overshadowed by a generally underperforming Chelsea squad.
However, he showcased his capabilities with an impressive outing in Chelsea’s resounding 6-0 win against Everton on Monday.
‘He’s a great player,’ former Barcelona and Spain defender Puyol told Ecuadorian outlet El Universo when asked about his thoughts on Caicedo.
‘I think he has the necessary quality, the necessary talent to be able to do important things. But the most important thing is that he’s in a great team where he can grow a lot.’
Caicedo and Chelsea are poised to usher in Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure at Stamford Bridge with renewed vigor, aiming to ascend the Premier League standings and make a strong run in the FA Cup.
Earlier this season, Pochettino’s squad made it to the League Cup final but experienced a setback at Wembley when Virgil van Dijk netted a last-minute decider for Liverpool.
This weekend, Chelsea is set to face off against the reigning Premier League champions and current Champions League titleholders, Manchester City, in an eagerly anticipated FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Chelsea’s previous match saw them deliver a dominant 6-0 victory over Everton, a game highlighted by Cole Palmer’s remarkable four-goal spree, including a perfect hat-trick. Meanwhile, Manchester City is also showcasing top form, coming off a convincing 5-1 triumph over Luton Town.
