French full-back Jonathan Clauss has opened up on the reasons why he opted to snub Chelsea’s approach this summer in favour of remaining in Ligue 1 by moving to Marseille.
The Blues were linked with a number of defenders, including ex-Lens star Clauss, as they frantically searched for new players following Todd Boehly’s takeover, and identified the 29-year-old as a top target.
But the right-back turned his nose up at the opportunity to play at Stamford Bridge and has now revealed the reasons behind his decision, as the Blues failed to ‘tick all the boxes’ despite offering him the chance to play in the Premier League.
Speaking to Info Sport, via the Evening Standard, Clauss said: “I didn’t want to sign for Chelsea to one day say I signed for Chelsea. It was really to try and keep playing, to discover the Champions League. Marseille ticked all the boxes I was looking for.”
Clauss has since started each of Marseille’s eight Ligue 1 fixtures this season, helping to keep three clean sheets and provide two assists as they sit second in the table and just two points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain following six wins and two draws.
He has also started both of Marseille’s UEFA Champions League group stage fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Eintracht Frankfurt, although they have ended in 2-0 and 1-0 defeats, respectively, to leave them without a single point to their name.
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Chelsea had attempted to beat Marseille to his signature as they desperately searched for defensive reinforcements following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen at the end of the season, while Malang Sarr, Emerson and Marcos Alonso departed later on in the window.
The Blues did end up signing defenders Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana, but none of them match the right-back profile which they were after in Clauss. However, Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta still remain at the club
Azpilicueta was expected to leave Chelsea with Barcelona in talks over a deal, but the move eventually collapsed before the Blues' captain signed a new contract. No doubt the presence of James and the uncertainty regarding Azpilicueta made Clauss think twice over a move, and he sealed his switch to Marseille a fortnight before the Spaniard penned fresh terms.
Clauss had impressed during a two-year spell at Lens after arriving in 2020 from German outfit Arminia Bielefeld, making 74 appearances and recording an impressive eight goals and 19 assists across all competitions at the Ligue 1 club.
His performances earned him his first call-up with France in March this year and he has since gone on to earn four caps for Les Bleus. With the World Cup in mind, Clauss believes his best chance of earning a place in Didier Deschamps’ squad would not have come at Chelsea.
Instead, he penned a three-year contract with Marseille in July, for a fee believed to be in the region of €9million (£7.8m), where he now plays , at the Stade Velodrome with the likes of Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares and former Gunners trio Matteo Guendouzi, Alexis Sanchez and Sead Kolasinac, as well as Man Utd loanee Eric Bailly.
