Such is the chasm in class between the have’s and the have not’s in modern football that while some teams continue to stockpile their squad, others are failing to even make ends meet. Ever since Roman Abramovich took over, Chelsea have resorted to doing the former. The amount of times, they have bought players that they don’t need or overspent on a player is simply staggering.
When Chelsea signed Marko Marin from Werder Bremen in the summer of 2012, many, including this writer, thought that it was good business. After all, here is a promising young winger, who looks to have the world at his feet. He was just 23 at the time and a fee of £6.5 million was, by all means, a bargain for a player who had what it takes to be a world-class winger. The Blues looked like they could do with some diversity in attack and an up-and-coming winger on the cheap looked like a very good signing.
But, as is the case with most attackers, who join Chelsea, Marin found first-team opportunities difficult to come by. He struggled to break into the Starting XI and by the end of the season started to grow increasingly frustrated at not being able to express himself. So, it was no surprise to see that Chelsea sent him out on loan to Sevilla last summer to gain some more first-team experience.
His time at Sevilla was mixed to say the least. Here again, the German attacking midfielder was unable to secure a regular first-team berth. But this time it wasn’t due to his performances, which were at times top-notch, but because of his frequent injuries, which meant he was unable to string a regular run of games in the side. As a result, the Europa League winners Sevilla have stated that they have no intention of signing him on a permanent basis.
Now, Chelsea have a decision to make. Do they keep him and let him fight for a spot in the team alongside the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian, Oscar, Schurrle and Mohamed Salah or do they sell him and look out for another replacement. The answer is perhaps not as easy given Mourinho’s fractious relationship with Hazard, which might mean that the Belgian might be on his way out of the club this summer.
In an ideal world, if Hazard stays, then there would be no need to keep Marin warming the benches when he is unlikely to get a game here and there. But, since the future of Hazard isn’t certain, that poses a problem for Chelsea, especially Mourinho. Another reason why he is likely to move away from Stamford Bridge is his playing style.
The 25-year-old German midfielder has the creativity, versatility and technical ability to fit into the Chelsea ranks’ but that won’t be enough under Mourinho. The Portuguese manager is insistent on his forwards doing their share of the defensive work as well and Marin isn’t known for his defensive discipline. Given that Mourinho sold the side’s best player of the last couple of campaigns, Juan Mata in January because he wouldn’t do his share of the defensive work, it is unlikely to Marin will be able to stay if he doesn’t change his ways.
All things point towards Marin’s exit from London and with a few German clubs interested in his signature, Chelsea might well be able to recoup the fee they paid for him. However, should Hazard leave, they will find themselves short on cover on the wings, and a player of Marin’s quality is unlikely to be available on the cheap these days. So, it might well be wise to keep him on as a substitute in case Hazard leaves.
Watch him play against Athletico Madrid this season,