Chelsea helped to ensure Moises Caicedo’s mother was safe to ally the player’s fears in his early days at the club.
The situation in Caicedo’s home country of Ecuador – when he made the transfer from Brighton to Chelsea in the summer of 2023 – means that he had concerns both he and his family could be targeted by criminal organisations.
According to The Telegraph, the player’s mother, Carman, was flown to England to help reduce his fears. The club then offered to pay for around-the-clock security for his mother to help keep her safe.
The report adds that the situation in Ecuador has calmed, but some tensions still remain. It means that Caicedo is still aware that he could be a potential target for such criminal organisations.
Despite those concerns, after a difficult start to his Chelsea career, Caicedo has this season established himself as a key player for Enzo Maresca. The 23-year-old has started every Premier League game this campaign, scoring his first goal of the season in impressive fashion in their 1-1 draw against Manchester United last weekend.
The 8-0 UEFA Conference League win against FC Noah saw Caicedo rested altogether, with the midfielder one of several players to be left out of their squad. He’s expected to be back in the starting line-up when Chelsea take on London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon (4.30pm).
His current form represents a marked turnaround in his Chelsea career. In his first season at the club, following his £115million move from Brighton and Hove Albion, he struggled to make an impact.
The Telegraph report adds that the player was reminded of struggles he had during a loan spell with Belgian side Beerschot in 2021 during his early time at Chelsea. It seems that the reminder worked, with the Blues now reaping the benefits of his addition.
