Chelsea transfer news: Former manager explains why "rare potential pearl" rejected Stamford Bridge for a shock move to France

Chelsea and Barcelona were some keen to motion Malian teenage sensation Seydou Dembele earlier helium joined Stade de Reims successful August.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder emerged arsenic 1 of African football’s astir highly rated prospects aft a bid of awesome displays for Mali’s Under-17 side, scoring doubly and providing 4 assists successful 5 matches astatine past November’s Under-17 World Cup.

Chelsea reportedly submitted a €1.6m (£1.3m) bid successful April, and Barcelona besides attempted to unafraid his services.

The teen has already breached into Reims’ archetypal team, signaling an assistance successful his opening 2 league appearances.

Former manager 'confirms' Chelsea and Barcelona interest

According to Africa Foot via Sport Witness erstwhile Mali Under-17 manager Adama Diefla Diallo has confirmed that some European heavyweights were actively pursuing the playmaker.

“I’m not astatine each amazed that his marketplace worth has reached €5m (£4.2m)," stated Diallo. "He could adjacent person gone beyond that, fixed everything he’s done since arriving astatine Reims. Above all, his accelerated emergence to the Reims nonrecreational team.

“The information that helium got disconnected to a speedy commencement with the archetypal squad and everything that happened surrounding his transfer. Since respective clubs were funny successful him, notably FC Barcelona, Chelsea FC, and others, that’s what drives his worth up to that level.

"That doesn’t mean helium was sold for €5m (£4.2m), but his worth is estimated astatine €5m (£4.2m). In my opinion, it could adjacent spell beyond that.”

The highly-rated endowment instantly began playing for the younker squad upon his accomplishment earlier swiftly earning a promotion to the first-team squad.

Did Dembele marque the close decision?

Diallo afloat backed the teenager's determination to snub approaches from Stamford Bridge and Camp Nou successful favour of guaranteed elder shot successful the French 2nd tier.

The manager pointed retired that the deficiency of a connection obstruction successful a French-speaking state and the beingness of chap Malian academy graduates volition importantly easiness his adaptation process.

“He’s astatine a nine wherever he’ll advancement rapidly," Diallo stated. "There won’t beryllium galore connection barriers. Learning astatine the nonrecreational level is quick.

"He’ll accommodate quickly; it’s a French-speaking country. At the aforesaid time, helium volition find young radical from academies successful Mali. So, for me, the adaptation becomes easier.”

Dembele would person apt struggled to bid contiguous playing clip nether Alonso oregon Flick fixed the wealthiness of established attacking options astatine some heavyweight clubs.

By choosing a developmental pathway astatine Reims, the midfielder is perfectly positioned to summation invaluable nonrecreational acquisition during his formative years.