To round up the 2012-13 youth football season at Chelsea, we’re reviewing every single one of the Chelsea youngsters currently on the books who have spent time out on loan during the campaign. Here, we focus on Lucas Piazon.
Team: Málaga (Spain)
Appearances: 13
The Story
Lucas Piazón’s mid-season departure to Málaga was a curious one, for the Brazilian hadn’t really worked himself into the first team squad at Chelsea save for a few outings which were way down the scale of importance. A loan itself was understandable, but to a team in the last sixteen of the Champions League and one pressing for a top four finish in Spain? Even his biggest supporters struggled to really convince themselves that he would play regularly.
That’s how it transpired, with the teenager seeing most of his time as a second-half substitute under Manuel Pellegrini. He picked up a couple of assists and played some minutes in Europe, but it was largely a sideways move and with Chelsea battling through their longest-ever campaign, he may well have seen more football back in London.
The Future
Lucas recently spoke of his comfort and pleasure at living in Málaga (wouldn’t we all like to?) and how the Spanish game suited him more than the English game. It was an interview which was clearly aimed at him getting his desire to return there next season in nice and early, and with news of a relationship between Chelsea and the club from the Costa del Sol having been agreed, he could well return there having been the guinea pig, so to speak.
He’s not developed enough yet to be a genuine candidate to play at the Bridge next season, and needs a fuller season under his belt before he gets to that point. A return to La Rosaleda might serve everyone rather well.