Looking back, the quotes have a tinge of sadness to them.
“I’m overwhelmed, I’m looking forward to it and I’m really excited to get started,” said Ross Barkley. “To be given a fresh start at a new club like Chelsea, it’s unbelievable for me. I’m looking forward to continuing where I left off at the end of last season and hoping to improve and add more goals to my game.”
It was January 5, 2018 and Barkley had just completed a £15million transfer from his boyhood club Everton to Chelsea. The 24-year-old had signed a five-year contract with the Blues and was being hailed by club director Marina Granovskaia for his “outstanding technical and physical attributes” and “strong desire to succeed at the highest level”.
