Chelsea vs Leicester: Willian to miss match after his mother dies in Brazil

Chelsea have confirmed that the mother of midfielder Willian has died ahead of this weekend’s resumption of the Premier League, with the Brazilian a doubt for their match against defending champions Leicester City as he has been granted compassionate leave.

The 28-year-old was due to return from international duty later this week, but he has been granted extra time off by the club after the sad passing of his mother, Maria Jose Borges, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour two years ago.

Willian scored in Brazil’s victory over Venezuela on Tuesday night before returning to be with his mother in his home town of Sao Paulo. He took to Facebook late on Wednesday night to confirm that his mother had died with a touching poem in tribute to her, and Chelsea released a short statement on Thursday to express their condolences.

“All of us at Chelsea Football Club are sending our love and deepest condolences to Willian and his family after the passing of his mother,” it read.

“We are thinking of you Willian.”

His mother had undergone five operations in the space of two years in a big to cure the illness, but she passed away on Wednesday. Willian will attend the funeral in Sao Paulo this weekend, which will almost certainly rule him out of this weekend’s fixture at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and Leicester.

With Chelsea not competing in Europe this season, the Blues do not have a midweek fixture next week, and as such Willian is expected to be back in contention for Chelsea’s next match against Manchester United a week on Sunday.