Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea youth debuts: Where are they now?
By George Perry
Lassana Diarra
Chelsea appearances: 31 (2005-07)
Current club: Marseille
Lassana Diarra is a cautionary tale of inflated comparisons (are you listening, Michy Batshuayi?). Diarra arrived at Chelsea heralded as “the next Claude Makelele.” By that time, Makelele had already defined the defensive-midfielder role that still bears his name.
Despite the hopes the club piled on him for his midfielding abilities, Mourinho slotted him in at right full-back in the 2006/07 season to fill gaps due to injury. At the end of that season, Chelsea sold Diarra to Arsenal, where he lasted five months.
Diarra journeyed through the highs of Real Madrid and the wilderness of European football under the “curse of Makelele” after leaving Chelsea. Last year he made the Ligue 1 Team of the Season at Olympique de Marseille.
And, of course, he is linked in transfer rumors to a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.
Next: John Obi Mikel