Chelsea star calls out Enzo Maresca and claims 'it's not true' what boss said

Chelsea star Wesley Fofana appears to have refuted Enzo Maresca's claim that he will be out for the rest of the season.

The French defender has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring in the home win over Aston Villa on December 1. Maresca predicted a three-to-five-week absence for Fofana at the time, before later saying the 24-year-old was in danger of a much longer spell out.

Another lengthy absence would be a devastating blow for Fofana, who has had a tough time with injuries since turning professional. He missed nearly a year with a broken leg while at Leicester City, and then the entirety of Chelsea's 2023/24 season due to a cruciate ligament tear.

Fofana is seemingly determined to fast track his return this time round. A screenshot circulating on social media appears to show him messaging a fan to dismiss Maresca's claims that he will miss the rest of the campaign.

It read: "It's not true. I'm not out for the rest of the season, I don't know why he said that. I will be back in 4-6 weeks."

Reports in France back up the notion that Fofana hopes to return before the end of the season, with mid-March slated as the end of his possible recovery timeline. The centre-back wants to play a part in the final months of the campaign as Maresca's side hunt down a Champions League spot.

Chelsea fans have been frustrated by Fofana's lack of action since his £70million move from Leicester in 2022 - making him the fourth most expensive signing in the club's history. He has made only 32 appearances across all competitions in two-and-a-half years.

There is believed to be a debate behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge around whether or not Fofana has surgery on his hamstring, which would rule him out for at least three months.

Fellow defender Benoit Badiashile is also set to spend several weeks watching from the stands due to a thigh issue. But there is some joy to be had at Chelsea, with injury-prone midfielder Romeo Lavia on the verge of returning for his first appearance since early December.

"Romeo is very close and he has started to work with us," said Maresca before Saturday's draw with Crystal Palace. "There is no doubt that when Romeo is fit, he is a top player. We just need to understand how we can help him to not get injured."