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Michy Batshuayi says he was ‘fooled’ by Antonio Conte
Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi has had a go at Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte and claimed that he was ‘fooled’ by the Italian at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues signed the Belgian striker from Marseille for £33.2 million () in the summer of 2016 – the same year Chelsea appointed Conte as their new manager. Batshuayi was the Italian’s first signing there.
Michy Batshuayi says he was ‘fooled’ by Antonio Conte
Batshuayi was expected to become a star for Chelsea following his big-money move in 2016. He was very highly rated at the time, and it seemed as though Conte really liked him as well.
The Belgian played 20 times in the Premier League in his debut campaign, which doesn’t seem too bad at first. However, only one of those appearances came from the start, and Batshuayi has not forgotten about that.
The striker, who is currently on loan at Fenerbahce, has shed some light on his first conversation with Conte. The Italian apparently promised Batshuayi that he would be paired with Diego Costa up top, and the duo would be the main men in Chelsea’s attack.
That, however, didn’t happen, and Batshuayi has now accused Conte of fooling him.
He said in an interview with : “Conte was constantly contradicting himself.
“To start with my arrival, he called me and explained his project. He wanted me to play in a two-man frontline alongside Diego Costa.
“Did I believe that? Of course, because Conte has played with two attackers all his career. Except at Chelsea with me. I do not understand. The truth is that I have been fooled far too often.”
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Batshuayi’s time at Chelsea hasn’t really been a fruitful one.
The Belgian has been on the Blues’ books for six years now, but he has played just 77 times – 53 of which came in his first two seasons under the man he has just had a go at, Conte.
Batshuayi has since been loaned out to Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, twice to Crystal Palace, Besiktas and most recently to Fenerbahce. It’s clear as day that he doesn’t have a place for himself at Chelsea, and it’s almost a guarantee that he’ll be sold when he enters the final year of his contract next summer.
It will be interesting to see where Batshuayi will end up, but something tells us he won’t be joining Conte’s side.
