Play me or I’ll leave, Ruben tells Chelsea
RUBEN loftusCheek has warned Chelsea he wants to quit the club after the World Cup if he is not a firstteam regular.
‘I can’t stagnate and have another season on the bench, said the 22-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace after failing to establish himself at Stamford Bridge.
‘That’s the key for me next season regarding where I end up. I want to play.’
The midfielder’s words are certain to be taken seriously by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy as they continue to ponder yet another change of manager.
loftus- Cheek has already enhanced his burgeoning reputation in russia with an impressive 10-minute cameo in England’s victory over Tunisia on Monday night.
He is in line for his first World Cup start against Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday in place of dele Alli, who is struggling with a thigh injury.
However, loftus- Cheek’s domestic future is less clear as the youngster deliberates his chances at Stamford Bridge.
His performances at Selhurst Park culminated in his first international call-up in November and a place in Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad.
Now the Blues academy graduate has issued Chelsea with an ultimatum, adding: ‘I want to play as much as I can. Even this past season just gone I didn’t play as much as I would have liked to because of the injuries and stuff.
‘So I still feel I need a proper season of playing, wherever it is. I’m confident in my ability that I can do well wherever it is.’
Crystal Palace would certainly be interested in either a second loan move or a permanent deal for the talented midfielder, given his impact.
But the fact that Chelsea would look to recoup a sum of at least £25million is likely to prove prohibitive.
Wherever he ends up, loftusCheek is adamant he is over the injury concerns that plagued the beginning of his professional career.
He added: ‘I’m getting more confident the more I play. I had that period at Palace in december time where we had loads of games and I played and got through that well. In that sense I was getting confident the more I played.
‘I still get back problems, I’m working on that a lot and it’s getting better. I do some yoga, but it’s just about managing my back because that step up physically to men’s football is big. I know I look big and strong but it’s still hard on my body. But I’m feeling stronger and stronger the more I play.’