marking a dramatic twist after months in exile under former head coach Enzo Maresca. The French centre-back, who had been training away from the senior squad and playing for the Under-21s, was pictured participating in the Blues’ Cobham session ahead of key fixtures — a sign that his future at Stamford Bridge may be shifting under new management.
Disasi fell out of favour last season when Maresca relegated him — along with other senior players like Raheem Sterling — to train separately from the main group after they failed to secure summer moves away. The so-called “bomb squad” was frozen out entirely, with Maresca publicly asserting that there was “no way back” into his plans for those players.
Under that regime, Disasi’s prospects looked bleak. He hadn’t made a senior appearance all season and was confined to under-age fixtures while Chelsea explored possible exits in the transfer market. Teams including Lyon and Roma reportedly expressed interest, but deals failed to materialise.
The situation changed following a managerial overhaul at Chelsea. After Maresca’s departure in early January, Liam Rosenior was appointed as head coach and immediately began reassessing the club’s neglected talent pool. Rosenior has openly discussed his intention to engage with sidelined senior players, including both Disasi and Sterling, to explore whether they can contribute to his evolving squad.
Disasi’s latest involvement with first-team training suggests the defender has impressed in his work with the Under-21s — and that Rosenior is prepared to give him a chance to fight for a place back in the senior setup. Assistant coach Calum McFarlane publicly highlighted Disasi’s professionalism and influence at youth level, hinting that this may have helped earn his training reprieve.
Despite this breakthrough, uncertainty remains over Disasi’s matchday role. He is currently not registered in Chelsea’s UEFA squad and is unlikely to feature in the upcoming Champions League tie against Pafos, according to reports. However, his presence in first-team drills makes a potential playing comeback more plausible than it has been all season.
Chelsea’s defensive unit has been stretched by injuries to key players like Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto, making squad depth a priority — and giving Disasi a timely opportunity to stake his claim. Whether this training return heralds a permanent reinstatement or simply boosts his January transfer value remains one of the key stories at Stamford Bridge this week
