Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Milan’s new signing, has revealed that frustration with his lack of playing time and position at Chelsea led him to move for 15 million pounds this summer. The midfielder, who spent almost two decades at Chelsea, expressed his love for the club and the fans, but admitted to being unhappy with his role and opportunities. Loftus-Cheek, 27, scored seven goals in 155 appearances for Chelsea, winning the Premier League and Europa League during his tenure. However, he was unhappy with his playing time last season, making just 33 appearances and starting just 19 games in the Premier League.
Loftus-Cheek emphasized his desire to contribute more on the pitch, but felt he wasn’t given the chance to do so at Chelsea. As a box-to-box midfielder, he saw his preferred role neglected, which led him to look for a fresh start. Having signed a four-year contract with Milan, Loftus-Cheek is eager to showcase his skills and make a significant impact at his new club. He expressed his physical readiness and his enthusiasm for the exciting soccer he has been playing.
The England international’s first opportunity to represent AC Milan will come during the club’s high-profile pre-season tour of the United States. Milan will face top-flight opponents such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, giving Loftus-Cheek a platform to demonstrate his skills. The United States holds sentimental value for the midfielder, as it was there that he made his first-team debut during a post-season tour with Chelsea in 2013.
Loftus-Cheek’s career suffered a setback in 2019 when he suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury and was sidelined for 11 months. He considers this the lowest point of his career. Before finalizing the move to Milan, Loftus-Cheek consulted his former Chelsea teammate Fikayo Tomori, who joined AC Milan in 2021. He is also looking forward to the arrival of Christian Pulisic, another former Chelsea player, and believes that the talented US winger will make a significant impact on the team.
With Loftus-Cheek’s determination to prove his worth on the pitch and his excitement about the new chapter in his career, Milan will be hoping to benefit from his skills and contributions next season.