Out of favour Chelsea star laments missed AFCON opportunity at Stamford Bridge.

Armando Broja says he should have remained at Chelsea when Nicolas Jackson left for AFCON

Armando Broja’s tenure at Chelsea appears to be reaching its conclusion as the club considers parting ways with the striker during the summer transfer window to generate profit. The Albanian forward has also expressed his desire for more playing time during his time at the club.

Broja spent the latter part of the previous season on loan at Fulham, but the move turned out to be disappointing as he struggled to secure regular minutes on the pitch. Now back at Chelsea, Broja finds himself on national team duty for Euro 2024.

Despite initially expecting to command a £50 million fee in the transfer market, Broja’s lack of playing time during his loan spell at Fulham has diminished his value. Chelsea may need to lower their asking price if they intend to offload him during the summer transfer window.

However, his January loan move came as a bit surprising, given that many thought he would be important for the club when Nicolas Jackson represented Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations in January. However, Chelsea opted to loan the forward, and looking at past times, Broja told The Athletic:

“I did think when Nicolas Jackson went away with Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations that I would be given an opportunity to play a load of games. I started three times in January, but I thought there were times I could have been utilised more.’’

It’s indeed unfortunate to see a promising talent like Broja struggling to make an impact during what should be his peak years. There’s a valid argument that Chelsea may have benefited from retaining him rather than sending him out on loan.

Additionally, Broja’s challenges may have been exacerbated by a long-term injury, particularly if he was recovering from an ACL injury. Returning to top form after such an injury can be a demanding process and often requires significant time and patience from both the player and the club.

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Had Chelsea shown more trust in Broja and provided him with increased playing time, he might have been able to showcase his abilities and boost his market value while contributing positively to the team. Sending him on loan to Fulham ultimately proved to be a misstep for Chelsea, as Broja’s lack of opportunities to shine has hindered his development and potentially impacted his market worth.

Now, the Blues can only hope that Broja performs well at Euro 2024, as a standout performance on the international stage could indeed help increase his price tag and make him a more attractive prospect for potential suitors.