Pochettino defends Chelsea’s 116 million purchase Moisés Caicedo

Second most expensive Blues transfer

Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino has defended new signing Moisés Caicedo, who cost 116 million euros. The 22-year-old defensive midfielder is still getting used to his new club. Pochettino reported a 20-minute conversation with Caicedo, who is still looking for his best form.

“We had no preparation with him. We talk about footballers, there is the physical and the mental, and then there is the talent. If you want to express your talent, you must have a clear head and good legs; otherwise it is not possible to make a difference,” explained Pochettino (quoted via “London Evening Standard“).

Long international trips to the Ecuadorian national team would have done the rest and slowed Caicedo’s development. “Traveling to South America is hard, two or three weeks with us – 25 or 30 days – and then ten or twelve days away. Then he came back with some knee problems. That didn’t help. “It’s not an excuse, it’s the reality – we need time,” said Pochettino.

Pochettino’s plea for Chelsea purchase Caicedo: “He’s a human being”

Caicedo, who played for Brighton between January 2022 and summer 2023 and became interesting for Chelsea there, made 14 appearances over 940 minutes this season. The market value of the right-footer was increased from 75 million euros to 90 million euros as a result of his million-dollar transfer. Pochettino described the new signing as an emotional guy and player. “It is easy to blame money and various aspects. He is a human being,” said the Argentine (quoted via Fabrizio Romano).

With the amount paid for him, Caicedo currently only just misses the top 10 most expensive footballers in history. So far, Chelsea had only spent more money on Enzo Fernández (121 million euros). However, through bonuses, the transfer fee for Caicedo can increase to up to 133.4 million euros. The Blues play against his former club Brighton on Sunday.

With Nkunku, Palmer & Caicedo: Chelsea FC’s most expensive purchases

26 Benoît Badiashile | 2022/23 from Monaco

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Transfer fee: €38 million
As of September 1, 2023

25 Didier Drogba | 2004/05 from Marseille

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Transfer fee: €38.5 million

24 Michy Batshuayi | 2016/17 from Marseille

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Transfer fee: €39 million

22 Tiemoué Bakayoko | 2017/18 from Monaco

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Transfer fee: €40 million

22 Hakim Ziyech | 2020/21 from Ajax

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Transfer fee: €40 million

21 Andriy Shevchenko | 2006/07 by Milan

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Transfer fee: €43.9 million

19 Axel Disasi | 2023/24 from AS Monaco

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Transfer fee: €45 million

19 Mateo Kovacic | 2019/20 by Real Madrid

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Transfer fee: €45 million

18 Cole Palmer | 2023/24 by Manchester City

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Transfer fee: €47 million

17 Ben Chilwell | 2020/21 by Leicester City

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Transfer fee: €50.2 million

16 Timo Werner | 2020/21 from RB Leipzig

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Transfer fee: €53 million

15 Raheem Sterling | 2022/23 by Man City

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Transfer fee: €56.2 million

14 Jorginho | 2018/19 from SSC Napoli

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Transfer fee: €57 million

13 Fernando Torres | 2010/11 from Liverpool FC

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Transfer fee: €58.5 million

12 Christopher Nkunku | 2023/24 from RB Leipzig

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Transfer fee: €60 million

11 Romeo Lavia | 2023/24 from Southampton

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Transfer fee: €62.1 million

10 Christian Pulisic | 2018/19 from BVB

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Transfer fee: €64 million

9 Marc Cucurella | Brighton in 2022/23

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Transfer fee: €65.3 million

8 Alvaro Morata | 2017/18 by Real Madrid

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Transfer fee: €66 million

7 Mykhaylo Mudryk | 2022/23 from Shakhtar Donetsk

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Transfer fee: €70 million

5 Kepa | 2018/19 by Athletic Bilbao

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Transfer fee: €80 million

5 Kai Havertz | 2020/21 from Bayer Leverkusen

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Transfer fee: €80 million

4 Wesley Fofana | 2022/23 by Leicester City

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Transfer fee: €80.4 million

3 Romelu Lukaku | 2021/22 from Inter Milan

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Transfer fee: €113 million

2 Moises Caicedo | Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023/24

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Transfer fee: 116 million + €17 million in bonuses

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