Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso praised Kazakh striker Dastan Satpayev after the 17-year-old scored his first goal for the London club, according to infohub.kz.
Satpayev started in a friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers, helping his team to a 6-4 victory. The match took place on Tuesday, July 28.
"I have known Dastan since last year when he played in Almaty. It is clear he is a special player. He constantly threatens the goal, attacks very well between the lines, also playing closer to the center forward when moving in from the wing. For him, this is the first such experience after moving from Almaty. He is just taking his first steps in our club. But it is already clear that he is a very strong and fast player. He will impress you," Alonso said at a press conference.
Last fall, the Spanish manager was in charge of Real Madrid when they traveled to Almaty for a Champions League match against Kairat, for whom Satpayev was playing at the time.
The Kazakh joined Chelsea this summer. He will turn 18 on August 12, which will allow him to play for the London club at the official level.