Joe Cole says Chelsea slipped up when they let 'absolutely brilliant' Newcastle United player leave the club
As Chelsea keep beating Newcastle United to summer signings, it's nice to see a story where an ex-Chelsea man is cursing the club for letting one of their top talents go too early.
It's even better when that top talent now plays for Newcastle United.
Player turnover is immense at Chelsea, so there are always going to be players who they let go who could go on and prove to them they should have kept faith in them.
Lewis Hall is likely to be one of those players, but right now, former Chelsea man Joe Cole is ruing the day that the Blues let Tino Livramento move to Southampton.
Newcastle took a chance on Tino Livramento signing him from Southampton for £32 million
An ACL injury hindered Livramento's development at Southampton, but Newcastle took a risk on the youngster, signing him for £32 million in 2023, and the 22-year-old has gone on to become a massive player for Eddie Howe.
Not only for Newcastle, but England too. Livramento broke into the England senior side last season, but Thomas Tuchel allowed Lee Carsley to call up Livramento for the U21 European Championship,s which proved to be a good move.
Tino and England won the tournament, defending their title from 2023, with the Newcastle star making it into the Team of the Tournament.
Joe Cole says Tino Livramento was unlucky not to get Player of the Tournament at the U21 Euros
Now, Joe Cole has spoken on The Dressing Room podcast about how Livramento would be Chelsea's best option at right back if he were still there.
"I watched him throughout the tournament (U21s Euros) and I coached him a few times at Chelsea. He was coming through when I was there.
"He’s a lovely lad, great ability. I remember doing a session with him on crossing and I was just trying to break down the three different crosses you would do.
"He had everything: big, powerful, great skill, great attitude. I was like, “Once you get to the byline you’ve only got three options: you’ve got the dink to far post, you whip it across or you cut it back”, and he did it on both sides, left and right.
"When we talk about the new model at Chelsea and we praise them… you’ve still lost Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, another top player. I don’t know how much money but they’ve gone out. Are the ones coming in [better]? Tino Livramento would get in Chelsea’s team now I think.
"He was absolutely brilliant. If it wasn’t for Harvey Elliott getting Player of the Tournament, he could have been in the running for it."
