Zola says 28-year-old midfielder who left Chelsea last summer is now a ‘complete player’

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Chelsea legend, Gianfranco Zola has claimed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is now a complete player after leaving Stamford Bridge for AC Milan.

RLC joined Milan last summer, as Todd Boehly looked to refresh the team after they finished 12th the Premier League during his debut season as new owner.

Before his departure, RLC never quite established himself as a regular starter for Chelsea, but since his transfer to the Serie A, the 28-year-old has impressed, scoring seven goals after 27 matches for Milan this season.

“Competing in a different league is always enriching, speaking from personal experience. Testing yourself in another country improves you and it applies to him too. Today he is even more complete,” Zola told La Gazzetta dello Sport while speaking of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, as quoted by Football Italia.

“He was born as an offensive winger, right or left. He adapted to the inside and then was one of the two central players in the middle. With this availability he was able to add ability in the defensive phase to his characteristics.

“He can easily reach double figures, he is always dangerous, effective on the counterattack, decisive in his runs. In the area he makes his physicality count.

“I didn’t think a player of that size could be so skilled at dribbling. With Sarri [at Chelsea] we tried training in confined spaces and quick one-twos. I thought Ruben was going to struggle, but instead he was very good. Maurizio was also immediately impressed.”