COMMENT: It's just bad business, Chelsea. On the pitch. And in the books. A foundation stone in Maurizio Sarri's plans. Twelve months of progress down the drain. All for a long outmoded policy.
It's madness. Letting David Luiz go. Absolute madness. The Brazilian wants to stay. Sarri wants him to stay. As do the fans. Yet because of what it says on his birth certificate, those upstairs are willing to let Luiz walk. And with him will go 12 months of work and development put in by player and coach.
In the days of individual fitness monitoring. Of tailored training and diet. How can such a backdated approach of drawing a line through every player who hits 30 still exist? Indeed, how can any serious football person argue for such a policy?
Are they really going to let this happen? If it's about the bottom line, then what's more costly? An extra year on a fully fit and outstanding 31 year-old's 12-month deal? Or letting the man go. All that leadership. Experience. Not to mention form and ability. And having to replace it all. How much of an investment will that take?
"It's a rule and so we have to respect that, I think," says Sarri.
"As you know very well the big problem is the duration of the new contracts. Because, as you know, over 30 years the club offers only one year to renew."
But what's the risk to Chelsea? Luiz didn't suddenly become a bad player last season. That was down to personalities. Antonio Conte just wasn't having him. Maybe the Brazilian was too close to Diego Costa. Maybe it was simply Conte's choice to go with the younger Andreas Christensen. But it had nothing to do with Luiz's competitiveness.
This wasn't the stuff of fading powers and father time. Sarri has proved that since succeeding Conte and re-installing Luiz. Better yet, if we're talking finances and metrics, then Chelsea surely owe their manager. Sarri has effectively revalued their asset. From being a write-off six months ago to again producing the form and leadership which convinced Roman Abramovich, the club's owner, to commit £34m to sign Luiz for a second time three years ago. Again, how much will it cost the club to replace the Brazilian?
Cesc Fabregas is in the same boat and discussing the pair, Sarri made it clear why both men are needed in his locker room.
"David and Cesc are leaders, and so I think it's very important for me, for the staff, also for their team-mates, if they stay with us," said Sarri. "The club want a short contract and the players want a long contract. And so it's difficult for this reason. I think at the end we can find a solution."
At 31 and for what he has done for the club, Luiz deserves some stability. In contrast to Cesc, the Brazilian doesn't want to leave. He's not instructed his agents to test the ground. He's happy where he is. He's enjoying his football - and his life off the pitch, which now includes his restaurant, Babbo, which opened earlier this year in Mayfair. A two-year deal for what he offers and represents isn't asking the world. And for this column, it is the best solution for all parties.
Ripping Luiz's ability away from Sarri's plans is bad enough. But where are the top brass going to find a player to match his personality and energy?
"We are still talking, let's see. Let's see what the future brings," Luiz declared after helping end Manchester City's unbeaten run earlier this month. “I love this club, everybody knows I want to stay."
Replacing players. Great players. And those of Luiz's ties with the club. It is all part of football. But you don't invite these problems onto you. You don't create an unnecessary issue all for the sake of bean counter policy.
This is just bad management and bad business. With 2019 just hours away, the length of contract for a player of Luiz's ability shouldn't depend on his birthdate.
