Player Who Left Chelsea Before Final Spotted Partying with Burna Boy as Team Lifted Title

Player Who Left Chelsea Before Final Spotted Partying with Burna Boy as Team Lifted Title

  • Noni Madueke skipped Chelsea’s Club World Cup final against PSG to finalise a £52m move to Arsenal
  • The winger was spotted partying at Wireless Festival, vibing to Burna Boy as Chelsea lifted the title
  • Arsenal fans have launched #NoToMadueke petition, as they disapprove of the signing of the Chelsea winger

Noni Madueke was notably absent from Chelsea’s historic 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final held at the MetLife Stadium, choosing instead to leave the team camp early to finalise his move to Premier League rivals Arsenal.

His absence, permitted by Chelsea to facilitate a £52 million transfer, raised eyebrows, but it was what followed that truly stirred controversy.

Noni Madueke, Chelsea, Arsenal, Burna Boy
Noni Madueke was spotted at the Wireless Festival vibing to Burna Boy's performance on the same day Chelsea beat PSG to win the Club World Cup final. Photo Francios Nel
Source: Getty Images

Just 24 hours after Chelsea’s victory, photos and videos surfaced on TikTok showing Madueke partying at the Wireless Festival in North London.

The 23-year-old England international was seen enjoying Burna Boy’s performance and vibing during Drake’s 40-minute set.

According to GOAL, Madueke wasn’t alone as he was spotted with Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho and Chelsea loanee Carney Chukwuemeka, all of whom drew attention from fans and pundits alike.

Noni Madueke, Chelsea, Arsenal, Burna Boy
Afrobeats star Burna Boy performing on the third day of the Wireless Festival. Photo by Joseph Okpako
Source: Getty Images

The optics of the celebration, especially while his former Chelsea teammates celebrated a hard-earned global title, did not sit well with many fans, including those of his new club, Arsenal.

Arsenal move sparks fan backlash

While the move to Arsenal is expected to be completed after a scheduled medical on Monday, the reaction from fans has been far from celebratory.

The North London faithful are divided, with many questioning the logic behind spending such a significant sum on a player who wasn’t even a starter at Chelsea.

According to The Sun, a petition titled #NoToMadueke has already attracted over 5,000 signatures from disgruntled

Arsenal supporters who believe the club should be targeting more high-profile or proven attackers, especially with Champions League ambitions on the horizon.

Critics argue that Madueke’s form at Chelsea did not justify the price tag, pointing to his inconsistency and fitness concerns.

Madueke faces backlash for latest move

Though Madueke’s off-field behaviour is not new to the modern footballer lifestyle, the decision to attend a high-profile festival while his (now-former) teammates were lifting a prestigious international trophy comes off as tone-deaf.

The presence of fellow controversial figure Jadon Sancho only intensified the media scrutiny.

Sancho, whose career is also in limbo, has had his own issues with professionalism and club discipline.

For Madueke, the Arsenal move was meant to be a fresh chapter. Now, even before his unveiling, he is making headlines, but for all the wrong reasons.

Who made the decision for Madueke to leave

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that winger Noni Madueke personally made the decision to leave the club’s Club World Cup camp ahead of their final against PSG.

While the timing of the transfer, just days before Chelsea’s biggest match under Maresca, has raised eyebrows, the manager made it clear that the move was the player’s own choice.

Despite the potential disruption to Chelsea’s preparations for the Club World Cup final, Maresca struck a calm and respectful tone regarding Madueke’s departure.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Chukwu Ikechukwu avatar

Chukwu Ikechukwu (Sports Editor) Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a seasoned sports journalist with over a decade of experience across radio, TV, and online media. His career has seen him contribute his expertise to prominent media outlets such as Today FM, Wish FM, Silverbird Communications, and Sports Brief. Chukwu earned his Bachelor's degree in Agriculture from the University of Port Harcourt in 2016. Email: Chukwu.ikechukwu@corp.legit.ng