The 25-year-old joined the Blues back in 2010, and is currently the longest-serving member of their first-team squad. Matej Delac has admitted he is ready to seek a new club after work permit issues have kept him out of the reckoning for seven years,looking for a way out of Stamford Bridge without ever playing a competitive match.
“Yes, soon will come a time I’ll have to leave Chelsea. Many people ask me do I regret coming to Chelsea so young, and not joining some smaller club, but I feel no regret,” he explained to SportSport .
“Your career can always be better, but I am 25 and have been through so much, met many coaches, players, gained experience.
“The problem was not my quality, Chelsea believed in me, extended my contract several times, but the problem was always work permit.”
Despite his frustration at remaining on the fringes at Stamford Bridge, Delac is grateful to all involved at Chelsea.
“Chelsea had a plan for my career, but you can not plan some things. As I arrived, aged 18, it seemed like some movie, I can’t describe that feeling. I will remember the greatness of Chelsea FC, they raised me and taught me human and football manners. And of course my first game, in Ljubljana vs Olimpija, when I plqayed with Fabregas, Costa,” he said, while also backing manager Antonio Conte to turn things around after a mixed start to the current season.
“Conte is great worker, professional, even when Chelsea is not doing well, I know it is just a phase and Conte will find a way out.”
