Controversial teenager Gael Kakuta to make Chelsea debut against Wolves
Published 23:00 20/11/09 By By Martin Lipton
Carlo Ancelotti will today give Chelsea fans their first glimpse of Gael Kakuta – the signing of whom could see the club banned from the transfer market for 18 months.
French ace Kakuta will be on the bench against Wolves for Ancelotti’s injury-strapped side, with the Italian hoping for a chance to blood the 18-year-old.
Chelsea were handed a two-window transfer ban by FIFA after being found guilty in September of inducing Kakuta to break his contract with Lens.
That suspension is now on hold, pending the appeal hearing due early next year but Chelsea are braced for the punishment to be upheld.
And now Blues' supporters will get the chance to see what the fuss was all about, as Ancelotti suggested Kakuta will become the new boy-wonder of Stamford Bridge.
Ancelotti, without Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba, said: “At his age, I have never seen a player with his talent and ability.
“He is very young and a quiet boy, and for the first week or two after the transfer ban he suffered.
“But then he calmed down and has trained with us and showed he can become a player who is part of the culture of the club.
“His character is good. Technically, he is fantastic - his left foot is very good. He is a No.10, like Deco or Joe Cole and yes, he is worth all the fuss and attention.
“Of course, he is not quite ready to start for the first team yet, because he is not as strong as he will be and he needs to improve his physical qualities. But technically he is ready to play and he is ready to come on for us in games now.”
