Chelsea are pleased with Benoit Badiashile's progress during his loan spell at Napoli. According to reports, the London club has even contacted the Neapolitans to commend them on their handling of the French defender.
Badiashile made the move to Italy this summer on loan, with a buy option set at around €20 million.
This transfer was essential for the player, who struggled for consistent game time at Chelsea last season and needed regular match practice.
The early weeks in Naples were challenging for him.
The Frenchman lacked match fitness, and manager Massimiliano Allegri was initially reluctant to start him.
However, the situation began to change.
Journalist Sandro Sabatini revealed that Chelsea are satisfied with how Napoli has managed the player.
He stated:
Last week, Chelsea called Napoli to congratulate them on their work with Badiashile.
He’s a strong player. Honestly, I didn’t expect this.
Sabatini also highlighted the defender’s impact on the team's dynamics.
In a recent match against Roma, which ended in a 3-3 draw, Badiashile was absent, and the journalist pointed out Napoli's defensive issues without him.
Without Badiashile, Napoli conceded three goals in just twenty minutes.
If Allegri could turn back time, he might have opted for a different centre-back choice.
However, the Frenchman's main issue continues to be injuries.
Sabatini noted:
Just look at how many matches he’s played in recent years.
He constantly picks up injuries.
The latest match only confirmed these fears.
Badiashile was subbed off in the second half due to another injury that could keep him sidelined for several weeks. This is particularly unfortunate for Napoli, as he was brought in partly due to Alessandro Buongiorno's fitness concerns.
So far this season, Badiashile has appeared in five matches across all competitions, four of which were in Serie A.
One of his standout performances was in a victory over Frosinone, which significantly strengthened his position in the team.
While Chelsea are pleased with how the loan is progressing, it’s too early to make conclusions about a potential purchase. If Badiashile faces another lengthy absence, it could impact Napoli's decision on that €20 million option.
