By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 5, 2024

Conor Gallagher's Chelsea career was effectively over after he was told last week he would be a squad player if he stayed because of the new style of play.

Atletico Madrid offered him the long contract he wanted and Champions League football. They gave him until the end of the weekend to decide if he wanted to move there and Chelsea made it clear it would be the right move for him if he wanted a long-term deal.

Chelsea did not want him to run down his contract and leave on a free next summer. They did not want a repeat and distraction of the Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen situations.

Gallagher was due to train at Cobham on Monday if he had turned down the move to Spain. Chelsea's first team squad are in the US until Wednesday.

Gallagher's departure will be controversial because he has been at the club since he was eight and he has established himself as a key player and fan favourite. Former head coach Mauricio Pochettino made him captain last season.

Many Chelsea supporters wanted Gallagher to be offered a long-term contract but the latest club offers were for a two-year deal plus the option of another year.

The latest 2+1 offer was rejected last week. Chelsea did not offer a longer deal because they were concerned that he would be a squad player in the new high-possession style they are committed to playing under new head coach Enzo Maresca.

It could also have had financial PSR implications for Chelsea so it was felt that it would have been a mistake for both parties to commit to a longer teem deal.

Chelsea respected the fact that he is an England international who needs to be a regular starter. A longer contract could have tied him up as a squad player and jeopardised his place in future England squads.

He turned down extension offers because he wanted a longer contract similar to the ones which have been signed by his teammates.

The salary Chelsea offered him was comparable to the highest earners in their midfield and is believed to have been comparable to other salary offers he had received.

Gallagher also turned down interest in a contract extension in the autumn of 2022 because he wanted to be a regular starter and not a squad player. He became a regular starter last season.

Source Sky Sports

Posted August 5, 2024

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