'No decision' on Mudryk's future after Chelsea return, says Alonso

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says no decision has been made on Mykhailo Mudryk's future after the Ukraine international was cleared on Friday to resume his football career.

Mudryk, 25, was suspended for four years after failing a drug test in 2024 but won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He has not played since November 2024, and there have been rumours Chelsea could sanction a loan move to bring him up to speed, or even a permanent transfer.

Asked about those possibilities in Hong Kong on Tuesday ahead of his side's friendly against Juventus, Alonso said: "No decision made.

"Everything has happened so quick, so the main thing is that we were thinking about the person, to feel that he was back in the group dynamic, part of the team.

"And we need to assess, but for sure… it is a special case with him, so we need to be sensitive," he said.

The ban came after Mudryk tested positive for a low concentration of the prohibited substance meldonium. Rule changes in the interim mean that if his test produced the same result now, he would not have faced charges.

Asked if Mudryk could feature against Juventus on Wednesday, Alonso answered in the affirmative. "Yesterday was more about the feelings, about the emotions to be back with the team, more than to assess the fitness level. But yes, he could play. Maybe 90 minutes is too early. But he can be selected," the Spaniard said.

Mudryk took part in an open training session at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday evening, drawing a loud cheer from fans when he found the net in a drill.

Alonso said he was also "looking forward to welcoming" Jordan Henderson, who signed from Brentford on Monday, though "we need to assess because of the injury he had". Henderson, 36, broke his arm celebrating England's World Cup win over Mexico, and follows Danny Welbeck, 35, to Stamford Bridge in a shift from the Blues' strategy of signing younger talent.

Juventus, sixth in Serie A last season, have signed Bosnian teenager Kerim Alajbegovic and brought back striker Randal Kolo Muani. "We know they are strong, and we just need to make them settle," manager Luciano Spalletti said.

Chelsea's tour continues against AC Milan in Jakarta and Johor Darul Ta'zim in Malaysia, before a final warm-up against Real Sociedad. They open the league at Fulham on Aug 24.