Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s manager, is under significant pressure to deliver silverware after overseeing one of the most expensive squads in the club’s history.
In his pursuit of turning Chelsea into serious Premier League title contenders, Maresca could take a page out of Jose Mourinho’s playbook by bringing back Kevin De Bruyne to Stamford Bridge.
While Maresca’s first season in charge has been solid, with Chelsea in the running for the Europa Conference League and Champions League qualification, his real challenge will come in the summer. Chelsea’s squad is filled with talent, but it needs the experience and leadership of a player like Kevin De Bruyne.
De Bruyne, who had a brief and unremarkable stint at Chelsea earlier in his career, has since gone on to become one of the world’s best players, winning multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League with Manchester City.
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The Belgian playmaker is set to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, with his contract expiring. Maresca could seize the opportunity to bring De Bruyne back to Stamford Bridge, where his experience, leadership, and ability to perform in high-pressure situations could have an enormous impact.
Even though De Bruyne may not have many years left at the highest level, his presence could help guide Chelsea’s younger talents to success. This strategy is reminiscent of Mourinho’s decision to bring Didier Drogba back to Chelsea in 2014, despite the Ivorian forward being 36 years old and playing in Turkey. Drogba’s experience proved invaluable as he contributed to Chelsea’s Premier League title victory that year.
As Chelsea looks to improve on their performances this season, De Bruyne’s potential return could be the key to a successful 2025/26 campaign. The question is: will Chelsea be able to convince the Belgian to return to London?
