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Why Joao Pedro is allowed to play in the FIFA Club World Cup for Chelsea but not Jamie Gittens
Joao Pedro shone on his full debut for Chelsea, as another new signing in Jamie Gittens watched from the sidelines.
Just six days after arriving, the Brazil international scored twice to secure a 2-0 win over Fluminense and fire Chelsea into the FIFA Club World Cup final.
However, many have wondered how Joao Pedro was eligible to play in the competition so soon after arriving, whereas Jamie Gittens – who moved to Chelsea in a £51.5m switch from Borussia Dortmund on Saturday – could not.
Borussia Dortmund to blame for Jamie Gittens being sidelined
The fact both players signed for Chelsea less than a week ago has nothing to do with the situation.
Borussia Dortmund are the ones to blame for Gittens not being able to feature, as the German giants cup-tied the England U21 international earlier in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Annoyingly for Chelsea, Niko Kovac opted to hand the 20-year-old 13 minutes of action in Borussia Dortmund’s opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup, a 0-0 draw against Fluminense.
Gittens was then left on the bench for the next match against Mamelodi Sundowns, before his move to Chelsea began to progress and he found himself left out of the squad entirely.
Now, those 13 minutes of football against Fluminense could cost the Reading-born forward a FIFA Club World Cup winner’s medal, should Chelsea defeat PSG or Real Madrid on Sunday.
Chelsea debut will be a full circle moment for Jamie Gittens
Whenever Gittens – who Bayern Munich wanted – makes his Chelsea debut, it will be a special moment.
The speedy winger actually used to play for Chelsea at Under-8 level, but opted to leave for Reading.
Gittens previously told the Secret Scout: “I went to Reading, and was also at Chelsea too for a bit. I got to Under-9 level where I had to pick between Reading and Chelsea. I picked Reading and stayed there until Under-14.”
Therefore, in some ways, Gittens could be compared to Paul Pogba, who played in the youth ranks at Manchester United before departing for free, only for the Red Devils to spend millions bringing him back.