{"id":21821,"date":"2026-07-27T09:26:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T09:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=21821"},"modified":"2026-07-27T09:26:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T09:26:21","slug":"xabi-alonso-names-special-chelsea-youngster-that-has-caught-his-eye-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=21821","title":{"rendered":"Xabi Alonso names ‘special’ Chelsea youngster that has caught his eye this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Xabi Alonso has a 27-man squad in Australia as things stand, and almost half of his Chelsea side are made up of youngsters. One has really caught his eye this summer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of Chelsea\u2019s 27 players down under, 17 are 21 or under. It is an incredibly young squad that highlights the need to bring in some older players. Of course, Chelsea\u2019s World Cup players are more senior.<\/p>\n

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Who will be a bigger success \u2013 Enzo Maresca or Xabi Alonso? \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n

City have confirmed Maresca will replace Guardiola.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix will be added to the squad. Although they are hardly old, their experience will be invaluable going into 2026-27. For now, the duo are resting after the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Chelsea officially begin their pre-season campaign on Tuesday against Western Sydney Wanderers. Alonso held a press conference before the game, and he was asked about a teenager in the Blues squad.<\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso admits Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli has caught his eye<\/h2>\n

Alonso was spotted working with Landon Emenalo during Sunday\u2019s open training session, while Reggie Watson, Reggie Walsh and Calvin Diakate have featured during the behind-closed-doors friendlies.<\/p>\n

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Another to have been included in the squad is Sydney-born 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli and given his birthplace, Australian reporters asked about Nicoll-Jazuli in his press conference ahead of Tuesday\u2019s clash.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we are expecting having a productive and good time here in Sydney, I\u2019m sure. You don\u2019t have the chance to come every weekend here to Sydney, so you need to pick the right time. So far it\u2019s been good.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we have our first game on Tuesday and then on Saturday. And Mahdi, I was informed yesterday that he was born in Sydney; it was a surprise. He\u2019s one of those talented players that come from the academy. <\/p>\n

\u201cReally impressed with him, with other ones, but Mahdi is a talent that we need to help, we need to develop because he has special qualities that you don\u2019t see that often from a 16-year-old guy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if he has an Australian passport, but it will be tough to choose. He has great dynamism, he has quality, a very complete player. He can pass short, dribble in the middle. Made a good impression.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli\u2019s Chelsea career so far in numbers<\/h2>\n

Despite his tender age, the six-time England U17 international has already played competitively for Chelsea\u2019s youth sides 41 times. A regular in the 18\u2019s, Nicoll-Jazuli has only just broken into the 21\u2019s.<\/p>\n

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Who is the most exciting academy talent at Cobham right now?\ud83d\udc40<\/h3>\n

Let us know of any young players we may have missed\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Yet, Alonso has called him into Chelsea\u2019s first team alongside Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and new signing Marco Palestra for the club\u2019s tour. Alonso is an admirer of Nicoll-Jazuli, as is key player Cole Palmer.<\/p>\n

So far, Nicoll-Jazuli has played 34 times for Chelsea\u2019s U18 side domestically and the U19 team that competes in the UEFA Youth League. Another seven appearances have come with the U21 outfit.<\/p>\n

Alonso is known to have a faith in youth. But it remains to be seen which of Chelsea\u2019s youngsters will get a chance under the German gaffer this season. Perhaps, if he shines this summer, Nicoll-Jazuli is that man.<\/p>\n

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