Alonso Welcomes Mudryk’s Chelsea Return After Doping Ban

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso expressed his happiness and support for Mykhailo Mudryk, who is set to rejoin the team in Hong Kong this week. Mudryk's return follows a resolved doping ban appeal, which saw the Ukrainian winger cleared to resume his career after a four-year suspension for a low concentration of meldonium. Alonso stated that the team is eager for Mudryk to feel like a part of the squad again after a long period away.

"We are happy, especially for him, because we are not able to understand what he has been through in this time and how he feels at the moment," Alonso said. "We want that he feels part of the team, because he has not had this for a long time, and that he has the support from everyone: from the club, from the teammates, from the staff."

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We are happy, especially for him, because we are not able to understand what he has been through in this time and how he feels at the moment. We want that he feels part of the team, because he has not had this for a long time, and that he has the support from everyone: from the club, from the teammates, from the staff.

Mudryk will join Chelsea for the next leg of their pre-season tour, where they are scheduled to face Juventus. This comes after a recent defeat to Tottenham in Sydney. However, Alonso emphasized that Mudryk's return to competitive play will be a gradual process. The 25-year-old winger, who joined Chelsea in 2023, has not played since November 2024, and Alonso noted that it will take time for him to regain match fitness and integrate fully with the team.

Former coach Roberto De Zerbi, who managed Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk, also welcomed his return. "He's my son, he's a cool guy, a top player, hopefully he can show what he suffered the last two seasons in this coming season," De Zerbi commented. Mudryk's case was influenced by changes in WADA procedures, which meant that under current rules, his failed test might not have led to charges.

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He's my son, he's a cool guy, a top player, hopefully he can show what he suffered the last two seasons in this coming season, maybe not against Tottenham, but he's a lovely guy.