With the Africa Cup of Nations just around the corner, many clubs will be preparing to play without their stars for a month or so, which tends to be a nuisance for managers.
Some players, like Andy Delort, have decided to take a break from international football to focus on their clubs, which El-Hadji Diouf finds ridiculous.
What the former Liverpool player also struggles to comprehend is how Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy isn’t part of the Ballon d’Or nominees.
He isn’t the first to point this out, with Sadio Mané and other members of the Senegal national team finding themselves a bit surprised at the Blues star’s omission from the list.
After all, Mendy and his performances helped Chelsea win the Champions League last season, conceding just three goals along the way, and there is a feeling he should have been there ahead of others.
Speaking to Europe 1 in France, Diouf said: “He’s the best goalkeeper in the world and he isn’t part of the nominees for the Ballon d’Or when the Italy goalkeeper is in! It’s scandalous. He should be part of the top 3. If Chelsea have changed, it’s thanks to Thomas Tuchel and Edouard Mendy”.
The 29-year-old was signed from Stade Rennais back in September of last year for around £21.6m and immediately supplanted Kepa Arrizabalaga from the starting role, leaving the Spaniard with few opportunities since.
