Tottenham have secured the loan of Mykhailo Mudrik from Chelsea. The Ukrainian winger joined Chelsea for a staggering £90 million in 2023, having previously attracted Arsenal's interest.
Mudrik's adaptation to the Premier League has not been smooth sailing. His career hit a major roadblock when he received a four-year ban for meldonium. Luckily, the Court of Arbitration for Sport lifted the ban, allowing him to return to football in July.
On deadline day, the 25-year-old winger made the switch to Spurs, reuniting with former Shakhtar Donetsk coach Roberto De Zerbi. Notably, Mudrik had not played at an official level for 22 months.
“Yes, it's a big risk. It’s a huge gamble, especially because he’s a very specific player. He only possesses one key quality – raw speed, breathtaking speed. If that’s not working for him, then that’s it,” said former Chelsea player Gus Poyet on GOAL.
“In this case, I have a different opinion compared to Enzo Fernandez. I think the club is asking themselves: ‘Alright, are we actually going to use him?’ As a wing-back? Absolutely no chance. If he hasn’t played for two years, we cannot risk whether he might get injured, as players like him often pick up hamstring injuries, plus it's a massive investment, so we move on,” Poyet added.
“So, perhaps they weren’t banking on him after such a reduced ban. That has been quite a talking point. Maybe they knew this was going to happen – I believe this decision lies more with the club than the situation with Fernandez. It was heading in this direction,” he concluded.
“It’s a wonderful feeling. I can’t wait for training and to represent the club, and I’m incredibly excited to reunite with Roberto De Zerbi. He is my football father. I believe in him. I trust him. I know what he expects from me, and I always feel like I am progressing with him,” shared Mudrik himself.
“I think Mudrik has the potential to win the Ballon d'Or in the future. I know his worth. He has the potential for an outstanding career. In my opinion, he is capable of winning the Ballon d'Or. He is a top-level player, but he is also very sensitive. He needs nurturing. Let’s see if he can fulfil his potential,” De Zerbi had previously stated.
It’s anticipated that the winger could make his debut for the team in Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
