by Todd Boehly Must Be Fuming: Chelsea Missed Out on a Ballon d’Or Contender They Had a Deal For
Despite Chelsea’s staggering £1 billion-plus spending spree, key weaknesses in the squad remain painfully obvious.
Their recent FA Cup fourth-round defeat to Brighton only highlighted these issues. With Nicolas Jackson unavailable to start, Christopher Nkunku led the line but lacked the cutting edge needed to threaten Brighton’s defense. Beyond the striker position, Chelsea struggles to find consistent goal-scorers outside of Jackson and Cole Palmer.
While the likes of Noni Madueke, Jadon Sancho, and Pedro Neto have been given chances, none have cemented themselves as a reliable attacking force.
Chelsea Agreed a Deal for Raphinha—But He Slipped Away
One player who could have solved this problem is Raphinha, now thriving at Barcelona. The Brazilian’s form this season has propelled him into the conversation for the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
Back in the summer of 2023, Chelsea had agreed a deal with Leeds United to bring Raphinha to Stamford Bridge. At the time, Todd Boehly was operating as the club’s de facto Sporting Director, personally overseeing transfer negotiations. His efforts to secure Raphinha, however, ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Instead, Chelsea opted for Raheem Sterling as their marquee attacking signing. Given the circumstances, it’s difficult to imagine both wingers joining in the same window.
Why Chelsea Lost Out on Raphinha
Despite having an agreement with Leeds, Chelsea were ultimately outmaneuvered by Barcelona. Raphinha’s agent, former Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Deco, played a pivotal role in steering his client toward the Camp Nou.
Former Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani later admitted that he felt he had disrespected Boehly by not selling to Chelsea. However, Raphinha’s personal desire to play for Barcelona proved decisive.
Chelsea have since continued their search for a high-quality winger and have even been linked with renewed interest in Raphinha. However, given his standout performances in La Liga, bringing him to Stamford Bridge now seems highly unlikely.
