New Chelsea signing Tiemoue Bakayoko has revealed that former Blue Claude Makelele helped forge him into the £40million player he became earlier this week.
The Blues completed the signing of ex-Monaco midfielder Bakayoko on Saturday, the 22-year-old signing a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Last season saw Bakayoko emerge as one of Europe’s most coveted midfielders as he starred in Monaco’s run to the semi-finals of the Champions League and Ligue 1 title.
Bakayoko insisted that that emergence was in no small part down to the influence of Makelele, the legendary French midfielder who served as Monaco technical director three years ago when the new Chelsea signing arrived from Rennes.
“Makelele helped me greatly,” Bakayoko told the club website.
“When he arrived at Monaco I wasn't a very, very good player, but I had a lot of discussions with him, he gave me a lot of advice, and he allowed me to play my style of football more simply.”
Bakayoko evidently left an impression on Makelele, now part of the Swansea coaching setup.
The 44-year-old told Goal earlier this week: “He’s not one to get scared. He makes the decisions all the time, sometimes it’s wrong, but this kind of player will make mistakes in order to get better.
“He has quality as a dribbler, passer, the timing of the pass. He’s good, very good. Now he needs one manager that will make him a big player.”
Makelele was not the only Chelsea great to inspire Bakayoko, who rejected interest from Manchester United, to join the team where his hero Drogba earned the adoration of the Stamford Bridge faithful.
“Drogba has had a stellar career and he managed to do so many great things, first at Marseille and then here at Chelsea,” said Bakayoko.
“He is definitely an example I wish to follow, be it the footballer or the person himself. He showed the whole world what he was and I saw that and admired it.”
