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- Chelsea acquired French defender Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg for £12 million.
- Sarr has joined up with Enzo Maresca's squad for the Club World Cup in the US
- Watch every Club World Cup match free on DAZN . Sign Up Now
What Chelsea While 's new center-back Mamadue Sarr might not speak loudly, he compensates with the intensity of his statements. The soft-spoken 19-year-old Frenchman forces us to listen intently with every quiet remark he makes.
When I was young, I had a dream," Sarr explains as we struggle to hear him above the noise of the air-conditioning units at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. "My aim was to become the greatest center back in the world.
'I want to be like Virgil van Dijk I really admire Van Dijk; he's a true leader. This quality is crucial for a defender. However, some individuals say my playing style resembles Ibrahima Konate .’
There is nothing wrong with a smidgen self-confidence – or confiance en soi as Sarr would say in the French that he occasionally slips into our chat, testing our GCSE credentials – and Chelsea will be pleased if he can come close to resembling either Liverpool defender after adjusting to the rigours of English football.
They spent £12million to sign this polite 6ft 4in figure from their French sister club, another teenager tied down to a whopping eight-year deal. Sarr spent the last season playing under Liam Rosenior, the Englishman going on record to insist he can indeed become a world-class centre back with the right guidance.
‘I trust him, and I trust me,’ adds Sarr, a right-footer who will compete with Wesley Fofana and Co. ‘I think I anticipate well. With the ball, I can pick a good pass. Off and on the pitch, I talk a lot. It’s an important job. It's good for me to have competition. That will help me to be a better defender.
‘He (Rosenior) was a top coach for me. He believed in me. He taught me how I can defend better, how I can help the team better, to speak a lot. Before, I didn't speak a lot. Now, I speak more.’
Before joining Strasbourg, Sarr was part of the Lens youth academy for six years, followed by another six years at Lyon, which included a stint on loan with Belgian club Daring Brussels, previously known as RWD Molenbeek.
When he switched to Chelsea’s affiliated club, he likely encountered whispers suggesting it feels like an antechamber where performers often get noticed and summoned to the main squad at Stamford Bridge.
Andrey Santos has also been brought in by Chelsea for the Club World Cup in the United States following his impressive performances on loan under Rosenior at the age of 21.
Santos and Sarr are anticipated to make their first appearance in either Friday’s match against Brazil's Flamengo or the subsequent game with Tunisia's ES Tunis.
However, Sarr maintains that his former team is far from just being a reserve squad. He states: "I came to Strasbourg to represent Strasbourg. Around November or December, I heard about some interest from Chelsea. By January, I thought it might be feasible. When one of the world’s top clubs shows interest in you, it's incredibly thrilling."
‘For me, I have to progress. He (Santos) is a very good guy, a very good player. Everyone knows he's like a brother for me. We talked a lot about Chelsea last year. Now we are here and we have to work to get better.’
What did Chelsea say to him in their project pitch? ‘To progress,’ he continues. ‘To work hard, work hard, work hard. When they think you are ready to play, you can. It's very important to me – to train very well, to speak with the coach, to speak with every player, and to be confident in what I do.’
Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites to win the Club World Cup, and they are a side that Sarr knows well after facing them home and away in Ligue 1 last season for Strasbourg, losing 4-2 at the Parc des Princes but winning 2-1 at the Stade de la Meinau before Strasbourg secured European qualification.
He notices parallels between PSG and Chelsea, particularly regarding the median age of their squads. "Indeed," he affirms when the French club is brought up. "Last season, I faced them twice. They are an excellent side. So are Chelsea. Both teams resemble each other. We have what it takes to go against them. In my opinion, Chelsea could come out victorious over PSG."
‘It (the Club World Cup) is very important. Every club wants to show that they are the best team in the world. Chelsea want to be the best team in the world so we want to win.’
Some critics will say Chelsea's youngsters cannot win trophies bigger than the Conference League, and Sarr insists that talk is hogwash: ‘It's not true. PSG won the Champions League. Chelsea can win.’
With his assistance, he aims to achieve this. Prior to Van Dijk agreeing to his new deal with Liverpool in April, Chelsea had been connected with signing the player for free. Now that they have acquired Sarr, he is eager to demonstrate why he should be considered the VVD of CFC instead.
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