How Rosenior's 'son' Sarr got Chelsea call after 'emotional' Afcon
· Yahoo Sports
Mamadou Sarr was affectionately called "my son" by Liam Rosenior when they worked together at Strasbourg - and the young talent is already pushing to start matches for Chelsea.
The 20‑year‑old defender, who helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in January, was effectively the Blues' only signing that same month after being recalled from his loan spell in France.
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And with Rosenior now in the Stamford Bridge hot seat, there is a real possibility that Sarr could start at Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
Having been exceptional on his full debut - the 4‑0 FA Cup win over Championship side Hull City - Sarr made his Premier League bow in the 1‑1 draw at home to Burnley last weekend.
He was introduced as a late substitute after Wesley Fofana became the eighth Chelsea player to be sent off in all competitions this season.
With Fofana suspended, Rosenior's alternatives at centre-back include Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong, but Sarr is also a realistic option to start alongside Trevoh Chalobah - the only defender to begin all six of Rosenior's league matches - with the head coach having named a different back four in each game.
"I'm learning about the people you can lean on when things aren't going your way," Rosenior said after Burnley striker Zian Flemming's late equaliser on Saturday.
Those comments leave Sarr well placed for a first league start.
How Sarr made it to Chelsea
Sarr did not know he was joining BlueCo - the ownership group that also controls Chelsea - when he moved from Lyon to Strasbourg for just under £9m in August 2024, having had an impressive loan spell at Belgian club Molenbeek.
Rosenior was involved in securing Sarr's move to the Alsace club, beating Rennes to his signature.
But the Senegalese was not on an upward trajectory at the time. He had slipped to fifth in the centre‑back pecking order at Lyon, despite having captained France at Under‑17 level.
Earlier in his career, Sarr began at regional club Saint‑Laurent‑Blangy before enrolling in Lens' academy, where his father Pape - who won 50 caps for Senegal - also played.
A family move to Lyon prompted his change of club, and a later switch of position from striker to midfielder and eventually to centre‑back helped accelerate his development.
As a boy, he idolised former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, but as he grew older he began modelling his game on Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and his compatriot Kalidou Koulibaly, both of whom he still cites as inspirations.
A £12m move to Chelsea last January was a dream come true for Sarr, who grew up watching the Premier League and supporting the club. He recalls being allowed to stay up to watch the Blues' 2012 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich, which left a lasting impression.
'Emotional' Afcon among factors helping Sarr adapt
Sarr replaced former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly in the semi-final win over Egypt and then played 120 minutes of a controversial Afcon final against hosts Morocco [Getty Images]Sarr's adaptation to life in England has been helped by three key factors. First, he spent a month with the team during their pre-season in the United States, where Chelsea won the Club World Cup, allowing him to bond with his new team-mates.
Second, the appointment of Rosenior - whose footballing philosophy Sarr knows well - has encouraged a player once defined by physicality and height to add greater intensity and aggression to his game, both on and off the ball.
Those close to the young defender say he explored loan moves to Premier League and Champions League clubs in the summer following the Club World Cup, only for Rosenior to persuade him to return to France as Strasbourg vice‑captain while competing in the Uefa Conference League.
They add that, had Rosenior not replaced Enzo Maresca in January, Sarr had expected to remain at Stade de la Meinau until the summer.
Third, Senegal's Afcon triumph gave him the greatest moment of his career so far, having started the final as a replacement for the suspended Koulibaly.
Since agreeing his move to Chelsea, Sarr has taken two hour‑long English lessons every day and has made significant progress. He still spends much of his time with the club's French‑speaking players but also has his older brother living nearby in London.
His father Pape offers occasional advice but remains based in Lyon. He has been a steady influence, supportive without being overbearing.
"Our father never put pressure on him," Sarr's brother Abdou told BBC Sport. "In fact, it was more our mother who took him to matches and training.
"Our father stood back and let him develop his own love and determination for football. He is still the same now - he knows Mamadou is motivated enough on his own."
When Sarr returned to Stamford Bridge, he was presented with an 'Afcon champion '26' shirt by the squad - an emotional moment given that his father was part of the Senegal squad which lost the 2002 final on penalties to Cameroon, with Pape missing that game through suspension.
"It's his best memory in football," Abdou added. "His father couldn't play in that final, so it was emotional for all of us. Everyone is proud - and his father's pride is even greater, having grown up in Senegal and knowing how hard it is to win that trophy."