Ian Maatsen, the 21-year-old fullback from Chelsea, has caught the eye of Barcelona as he struggles to secure a spot in Chelsea’s starting lineup. Since joining Chelsea in 2018, Maatsen has been loaned out to Charlton, Coventry, and most recently Burnley, aiding the latter in their promotion from the Championship.
Burnley expressed interest in retaining Maatsen for the Premier League season, with Chelsea accepting their bid. However, Maatsen declined, aiming to showcase his abilities in west London. Under Mauricio Pochettino’s management this season, Maatsen has made six appearances as a substitute in the Premier League and started twice in the League Cup, falling short of his aspirations.
Facing tough competition within Pochettino’s team, Maatsen finds it challenging to surpass established left backs like Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, and Levi Colwill. Reports from Spain suggest that Barcelona is monitoring Maatsen’s situation. With his contract at Chelsea expiring in 2025, the Blues are likely to seek options to part ways with him next year.
Maatsen’s talent is evident, earning him a call-up to the Netherlands national team by Ronald Koeman. Although he didn’t make his international debut against France or Greece, Maatsen remains eager to represent his country and aims for a spot in the Dutch squad for Euro 2024, provided they qualify.
In recent events, Virgil van Dijk’s late goal secured a crucial 1-0 victory for Koeman’s team against Greece, strengthening their qualification prospects. Barring a disastrous performance against the Republic of Ireland or Gibraltar, the Netherlands seem well-positioned to qualify for the upcoming tournament.
