25 August 2023 , 05:00
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Ryan Bertrand has returned to Chelsea and is training with the club's youngsters after being made a free agent this summer.
The former England international was released by Leicester in June following their relegation to the Championship. Bertrand, 34, joined the Foxes two years ago after spending seven seasons with Southampton, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most reliable left-backs.
Now without a club, the former Gillingham academy star has gone back to Chelsea amid interest from clubs in England, mainland Europe and the Middle East. Bertrand only made 11 appearances for Leicester, last featuring for the senior side in December 2021 before surgery on his knee ruled him out for 16 months.
The ex-Chelsea prospect made a brief return to action in April for Leicester's under-21s, playing just over an hour against Manchester United. Hoping to reignite his career while training alongside the Blues' loan development group, Bertrand has fond memories of Chelsea, the club he won the Champions League with in 2012.
Named in the starting XI for the final against Bayern Munich by interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, the match marked his debut in the competition, having spent the previous campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest in the Championship. Deployed on the left wing to help Ashley Cole deal with formidable Bayern duo Arjen Robben and Phillip Lahm, the then 22-year-old linked up with the likes of Frank Lampard, Juan Mata and Didier Drogba before being subbed off at 73 minutes for Florent Malouda.
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Bayern took the lead through Thomas Muller shortly after, only for Drogba to pop up with a talismanic header five minutes later. The Blues famously won the final on penalties, beating Bayern in their home stadium.
Bertrand beamed amid the celebrations in Munich: "Most people don't even get to the Champions League final during their lifetime in football, let alone win it so young, so that is extra special."
Di Matteo explained of his decision to start him: "I don't like to gamble as a person but I've seen Ryan work on a daily basis. I thought he was the best option for the balance of the team and with Ashley, who was immense, the two of them worked the left very well."
Bertrand was released by Leicester this summer after 16 months out injured (Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)Have your say! Should Chelsea offer Ryan Bertrand a short-term deal? Give us your verdict in the comments section.
Now, as a 34-year-old seasoned professional, Bertrand is looking for his next club. Football isn't everything to him, though, as he also loves something less traditional for an athlete: finance.
After turning 18, Bertrand began to pursue his passion through trading and started his own brokerage in 2015. He set up the business - a fintech start-up by the name of Silicon Markets - with the idea of "bringing institutional tools to the at-home trader".
And after developing the company, Bertrand sold it to a Malaysian firm before backing a short-lived emoji app alongside John Terry and Jose Fonte, the latter of whom he played alongside at Southampton. Bertrand explained to Sky Sports in 2021: "Sports is my passion, that'll never leave, but finance is another one.
"As you're building the blocks towards post-career, you've got to re-learn, re-train, help yourself become an expert in something different. It's those horror stories that have kept me ahead of the game, I'm always thinking forward."