Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Serhii Palkin has made a big prediction about Mykhailo Mudryk amid the Ukrainian’s struggles since joining Chelsea.
The Blues signed Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in a £88.5m deal in the January transfer window but it has not been the perfect start for the 22-year-old winger.
Mudryk has made eight Premier League appearances for Chelsea so far without registering a goal and has just one assist to his name.
He has been slated by several pundits, including Ian Wright, who questioned if Mudryk is ‘bothered’.
Palkin, though, has sent a message to the player’s critics as he told Sky Sports: ‘A week ago in England, I met Mykhaylo Mudryk and he is very happy.
‘He likes everything that is going on [there], he wants to work hard, he wants to show the best.
‘I said from the beginning, I spoke to the owners of Chelsea, and I told them you’ve got a real diamond but you should be very, very patient.
‘Give this guy time and he will show you what he can bring to the club. I know 100 per cent he will participate [in winning] many, many trophies for Chelsea in the future.
‘This is a very, very unique boy. A unique boy with unbelievable technical characteristics.
‘I stayed at the club (Shakhtar Donetsk) for 20 years. I have seen a lot of players. This one, from a professional point of view and how hard he works, I have never seen it in my life.’
Former Chelsea star Andriy Shevchenko has sent some advice to Mudryk after his difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge.
‘What worked for me in Milan and London was immersing myself in the culture, studying the language so I can communicate with my team-mates,’ he told The Athletic.
‘That will help him acclimatise quicker, which is important when you move to any country in the world.
‘On the pitch, the club and the manager will provide him with everything he needs to raise his level.
‘Chelsea have bought a talented player when he is very young, for the future. He’s just starting his path in a massive football career.
‘But his first step has been the right step, coming to Chelsea. He’s part of an ambitious project. He’s in good hands.’
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