Trevoh Chalobah admits leaving Chelsea was one of the hardest decisions of his career, but enjoyed being given a typically hostile reception from Arsenal fans on his Como debut.
The defender was booed by Arsenal supporters whenever he touched the ball during Como’s 1-1 pre-season draw at the Emirates, simply because of his Chelsea connections and the long-standing rivalry between the top two London clubs.
Rather than taking offence, Chalobah appeared to relish the experience as he began a new chapter of his career after leaving Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old came through Chelsea’s academy and spent his entire career at the club before deciding to join Como, who are preparing for a season in the Champions League.
“It’s a great team. As you know, the project is really good,” Chalobah said.
“I spoke with the manager and he was really showing interest. I wanted to join this project and I’m glad that I’m here.”
The prospect of playing in Europe’s premier club competition was a major attraction for Chalobah, who is hoping Como can make an impact after qualifying for the Champions League.
“Definitely, you always want to play in the Champions League,” he said. “It’s the best competition and I’m glad that the team’s got it this season. Hopefully we can do well.”
But walking away from Chelsea was anything but straightforward for a player who had been at Stamford Bridge since childhood.
“Yeah, of course,” he said when asked if it was a difficult decision.
“I’ve been there all my life. It’s a club that I always have in my heart and I just want to give thanks to them also for giving me the opportunity.
“I’ve been there since I was young and yeah, it was definitely a hard decision. But I’m glad of the career that I had there and giving my all.”
Chalobah became a popular figure among Chelsea supporters during his time at the club and he had a message for the fans who watched him progress from the academy to the first team.
“Just thank you to the fans. I really appreciate the love that you’ve shown me.
“It’s been an unbelievable journey, ups and downs, but keep the blue flag flying high.”
The defender admitted that, even once the opportunity to join Como arose, it still took time to make the final decision.
“Definitely, it was a difficult decision,” he said.
“As I said, I thought my time at Chelsea was done really well. All the best to them and to the players there. I know they’ll do great this season.”