Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea board ‘agree’ on giving Real Madrid another Bellingham

Despite recent rumors linking James to Real Madrid, it appears that Chelsea is unlikely to entertain any offers for the highly rated defender. Despite struggling with fitness issues this season, James continues to enjoy the full support of Pochettino and remains a valued player at Stamford Bridge.

Following the departure of Cesar Azpilicueta in the summer, Pochettino chose to bypass more experienced players in the squad and appointed James as the team captain, with Ben Chilwell serving as vice-captain.

However, James has only played 105 minutes in the Premier League since taking on the captaincy due to persistent injuries. Nevertheless, his talent has not gone unnoticed, and he continues to attract interest from clubs across Europe. Real Madrid, in particular, have been frequently linked with a move for the defender, with the belief that he can follow in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham and become a success in the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid is seeking a long-term solution for their right-back position, as both Daniel Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez are over 30 years old. James has been highly praised by Pochettino, who considers him a world-class player. If a move were to materialize, James would join fellow Englishman Jude Bellingham at the Santiago Bernabeu, where they would both represent England at an elite level while playing in Spain.

Reports suggest that Chelsea is firmly committed to keeping Reece James as their captain. According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, both manager Mauricio Pochettino and the club’s board are in complete agreement that James has a significant role to play at Chelsea, not only in the immediate future but also in the long run.

Despite Chelsea’s continued investment in young talents with potential for growth, they firmly believe that James possesses the qualities to be a pivotal figure in their ongoing project. This conviction is further demonstrated by James’ recent contract extension, which he signed last year. The extension was a clear indication of his unwavering commitment to the club’s vision and their ambitious plans for the future.

Mauricio Pochettino is keen to continue working with James (Image: Getty)

Since joining Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino has consistently showered Reece James with praise, going so far as to label him as one of the finest full-backs in the world. Pochettino emphasized the importance of James’ fitness and availability to support the team, particularly given his role as captain.

“He’s an incredibly important and amazing player for us,” the former Tottenham manager stated after James made his return to the starting lineup in a midweek fixture. Pochettino expressed his regret that James was only able to play for 70 minutes in the first game against Liverpool before succumbing to injury. However, he expressed cautious optimism about James’ gradual recovery and his ability to handle the demanding schedule going forward.

While the temptation may be to push James to play the full 90 minutes, Pochettino stressed the need for careful management of his fitness. He believes that with time, James will regain full fitness and be capable of handling the rigors of regular game time, thus solidifying his position as one of the world’s best full-backs.