3 hours ago
2
"You can't say no," Facundo Buonanotte explained after being asked why he chose to join Chelsea on loan from Brighton over the summer.
One of the more left-field transfers of the summer window was Buonanotte moving to the Blues. While clearly a highly-rated player, there had been little to no speculation about Chelsea making a move for the Argentine up until when it happened.
Chelsea paid Brighton a loan fee of £2million for Buonanotte, whose contract at Stamford Bridge runs until the end of the season. The 20-year-old has made just three appearances since completing the move to the Blues, and got off the mark in the 2-1 victory against Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup.
A smart finish from Buonanotte in Lincoln drew Chelsea level and helped them avoid a cup upset against the Imps. He quietly impressed in the win over Benfica in the Champions League a week later, but was taken off on around 54 minutes in west London.
With Cole Palmer hopefully returning from a groin injury after the ongoing international break, Buonanotte's playing time could become even more restricted in the coming weeks. The Argentine was signed to essentially play understudy to Palmer, though with concerns over the England international's fitness at the moment, Enzo Maresca may consider Buonanotte as more of a serious option in certain matches.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
"What you want is to play so you can be in the Argentine national team, but when a club as big as Chelsea comes along, you can't say no," Buonanotte said to TyC Sports. "I wanted to take on this challenge and prove I'm up to it.
"[I'm] very happy and very comfortable. It's the best league in the world. It never ceases to surprise you. Something different can happen every minute."
Buonanotte also cited Enzo Fernandez, his Argentine compatriot, as a big influence on his time at Stamford Bridge thus far. "He's a fundamental pillar," the Chelsea loanee said on Fernandez. "I learn from him every day, and he was the first to write to me when my move to the club was finalised.
"I don't need to say anything about what he's like on the pitch, because he's a wonderful player and everyone sees that. But beyond that, he's a great person."
English (US) ·