Emerson Palmieri ready for Chelsea return after his loan spell at Lyon

‘It’s a good place for me’: Emerson Palmieri insists he is ‘happy’ to return to Chelsea following his loan spell at Lyon after Thomas Tuchel tried and failed to recall him in January

• Italy international Emerson Palmieri has one year left on his Chelsea contract
• The 27-year-old left back spent last season on loan with French club Lyon
• Thomas Tuchel attempted to recall him in January after Ben Chilwell was injured
• Palmieri said he had a ‘good season’  but would be ‘happy’ to go back to Chelsea

Emerson Palmieri says he is ready to return to Chelsea and play his part in the future under Thomas Tuchel.

The Italy international left-back spent last season out on loan at Lyon, and the French club refused Tuchel’s attempts to recall him in January after an injury to Ben Chilwell.

‘For me personally it’s been a good season, I played a lot of games,’ said Emerson, 27, who has one more year on his contract at Stamford Bridge. ‘Let’s see what happens in the future. I have a contract with Chelsea. I’ve played there for three years and won some things. If I need to go back there I’m happy.

Italian left-back was loaned to Lyon from Chelsea after struggling to break into the blues team

‘It’s a good place for me, a good club. But I don’t know. Let’s see the next moves what can happen. I’ve not spoken to the coach.’

Tuchel wanted Emerson back in mid-season to share the load with Marcos Alonso when Chilwell suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury, which ruled him out for six months.

‘Lyon said no, it didn’t depend on me,’ said Brazil-born Emerson. ‘This was a conversation between clubs and I respect this because when I signed there I signed for one year not six months so now I go back to Chelsea for pre-season and let’s see in the next months.

Thomas Tuchel tried and failed to recall Palmieri after an injury to Ben Chilwell in January

‘It was nice to know they wanted me. I have a contract there. It’s my club for three seasons. I have a lot of friends there and if I come back there I am very happy.’

Emerson signed from Roma in January 2018. He has never established himself in the Chelsea team but, once again, there is speculation Alonso could leave, with Barcelona among those interested in taking him back to his native Spain.

Tuchel has spoken glowingly of Emerson’s qualities, both as a player and a person, and still views him as a capable alternative to Chilwell, who made his return from injury in Chelsea’s final game of the season.

Share this article

Source: Read Full Article