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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Michy Batshuayi slams Antonio Conte and claims he was "fooled" by ex-Chelsea boss

Michy Batshuayi believes he was signed by Chelsea under false pretences during Antonio Conte's time in at Stamford Bridge.

The Belgium international, 28, joined the Blues from Marseille in the summer of 2016 - shortly after Conte's appointment - but failed to make the grade at Stamford Bridge. He played just 77 senior games for the club before joining Fenerbahce in the summer.

Batshuayi spent most of his Chelsea career out on loan, completing spells at Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, Crystal Palace and Besiktas. The forward claims he was signed to play regularly under Conte, but made just 20 Premier League outings in his debut season.

"Conte was constantly contradicting himself," Batshuayi told Belgian outlet SPORT. "To start with my arrival. He called me and explained his project. He wanted me to play in a two-man frontline alongside Diego Costa.

"Did I believe that? Of course, because Conte has played with two attackers all his career. Except at Chelsea with me. I do not understand. The truth is that I have been fooled far too often."

Batshuayi wrote his name in Chelsea's history in May 2017 when he scored the winner against West Brom, a result that confirmed Conte's side as the Premier League champions. Like many of his appearances that season, he was brought on as a late substitute.

Michy Batshuayi left Chelsea earlier this month (Getty Images)

What do you make of Michy Batshuayi's recent interview? Let us know in the comments below!

This isn't the first time Batshuayi has criticised Conte. During his time at Dortmund in April 2018, he said: "I don’t know if Conte was watching my game. Sitting on the bench, score a goal and then back to the bench is quite difficult to deal with for an attacker.

"It wasn’t always easy at Chelsea. I’m now playing with a lot of confidence. They are focusing on the Premier League and have an important Champions League tie next week. I hope it turns out well for them."

Then as recently as last month, Batshuayi said: "For me it’s very clear: the problem was Diego Costa. At that time, I think there was no player who could’ve dethroned him. And in my second season, while I was having a great pre-season, [Alvaro] Morata arrived.

"So even there it was complicated. But after that, despite that, every time I came on I scored. In fact, it’s quite strange to say, but the team was so strong that it was easy to score goals. When you play with certain players, everything becomes easy."

On Conte, Batshuayi added: "I’m sure we would’ve had a great season together. But since the club is spinning, I can’t even say anything. Otherwise people would say that the guy is angry, that he only thinks about himself. The truth is that I have been messed about a lot."

Batshuayi has made a promising start to his Fenerbahce career, scoring against Dynamo Kyiv on his debut earlier this month. The 45-cap international, who has scored 25 goals for his country, is expected to be part of Belgium's squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

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