We can only hope for as much drama in the next episode of The Celebrity Traitors as we saw on Monday night when Moises Caicedo took to Instagram.
Before getting to the fallout, and who will now be representing the 23-year-old Ecuadorian moving forward, it is worth recapping what happened.
First, a statement appeared without warning on Caicedo’s feed telling us he had separated with his agent, Manuel Sierra of Football Division Worldwide, while clarifying that he was not represented by Ali Barat of Epic Sports Football.
It was written on a photo of Caicedo celebrating and finished with: ‘The contract ended on August 14, 2025, and the player has now appointed people that he can trust.’
But then, the barbed post vanished from Caicedo’s social media page. Immediately, Confidential began reaching out to relevant parties to see what was happening, including those who we understood were behind this statement.
We received some word that although Barat assisted in Caicedo’s British record £115million transfer from Brighton[1] to Chelsea[2], his actual agent was Sierra. Indeed, he was listed in FA documentation at the time as such. Sierra never replied to a request for comment.
Moises Caicedo caused a stir after taking to Instagram to reveal he has separated with his agent, Manuel Sierra, and ‘appointed people that he can trust’
Caicedo’s inflammatory initial statement on Instagram, that was swiftly deleted
Next, a new statement dropped on Caicedo’s Instagram page making the same claims, but minus that dagger of a closing line. Instead, this time it finished with: ‘The contract ended on August 14, 2025.’
It was a tad late for backtracking as the clumsily-worded original post had already been screenshotted and shared by Chelsea supporters on social media.
As if those teaching PR at universities did not already have enough for a fresh case study, the new post appeared to vanish all over again within five minutes of being uploaded to Caicedo’s page.
The amended statement remained up on the Instagram of NM23, the sports marketing company who are listed on Caicedo’s Instagram bio beneath the Ecuador national team, Chelsea and his charity, the Fundacion Nino Moi 23.
It is still there: on a plain blue background rather than one showing Caicedo celebrating.
It would appear a picture caption which originally mentioned ‘a new trusted person’ has now been removed, as only the image remains.
Caicedo is also assisted by a company called Vanquish Sportainment, who likewise help Enzo Fernandez with his external image. They still have both players listed on their website as clients, along with Chelsea legend Eden Hazard and Strasbourg starlet Valentin Barco.
So, who will be representing Caicedo from now on? Confidential has been told he will be advised by family members moving forward, alongside a lawyer, who asked not to be named.
The Chelsea midfielder has been in fine form this season and scored the opening goal in the Blues’ recent 2-1 win over Liverpool
Caicedo’s midfield partner Enzo Fernandez is also a client of Vanquish Sportainment, who help with the players’ external image
Chelsea are also not concerned by Caicedo’s public split with Sierra. He is contracted until 2031 with the option of another year, could yet see his performances rewarded with a pay rise, and we are told that he is perfectly happy at Stamford Bridge, competing at the highest level.
Anyway, beat all that if you can, Claudia Winkleman.
Blues wonderkid to sign pro contract next week
Reggie Walsh will sign his first professional contract with Chelsea next week, with sources confirming he is to put pen to paper on a pre-agreed deal after turning 17 years old.
The Blues were keen to tie down the technically-gifted teenager as soon as possible, with head coach Enzo Maresca a particular fan of the England youth player.
Reggie Walsh became Chelsea’s youngest-ever starter in a European competition last season, in their Conference League semi-final second leg victory over Djurgardens
Chelsea may choose not to disclose the details of the deal, and it is not yet known when they will formally announce it, but the maximum contract a 17-year-old can sign is three years. Walsh is described as a determined youngster, mature beyond his years, and hails from a good family.
He has already appeared three times for Chelsea’s senior side under Maresca. That included him becoming their youngest-ever starter in a European competition, at 16 years and 200 days, in their Conference League semi-final second-leg victory over Djurgardens.
Revealed: Chelsea hire specialist scout
Chelsea have hired a new national goalkeeper scout, Gary Woods, who was most recently with Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton in a player-coach role.
Woods has a degree in sports directorship, and I’m told the 35-year-old will be focusing on scouting players from between the Under-12 and Under-21s age groups in his new job with the Blues.
Chelsea are not currently in the market for a senior goalkeeper, including a return for Mike Maignan. They are satisfied with Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen, and will decide what to do with Mike Penders this summer after his season-long loan with French sister side Strasbourg.
Lightning McQueen getting up to speed
I’m told Ryan Kavuma-McQueen has spent all of this international break training with the Chelsea first-teamers who are not away on international duty and preparing for Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.
The 16-year-old winger made headlines last month when he scored four times against Germany in a 7-5 victory for England’s Under 17s. Like Walsh, the teenager is used to competing with those older than him, with the pair having impressed when performing for Chelsea’s Under 21s.
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen has spent this international break training with Chelsea’s first-team
Blues taking care of future recruit
Chelsea are overseeing the recovery of Corinthians left back Denner, the left back who is due to join next year once he turns 18 years old. The teenager is in the care of the Blues for now after having knee surgery.
Will James be fit for Forest?
Reece James’ next appearance for Chelsea will be his 200th, with the impending double centurion having skipped the international break with England as a precuation after his hamstring history. It has been described as a minor issue, not major.
Amid hope that James can be passed fit to travel to Nottingham Forest this Saturday, we will need to await official word from Maresca at his Friday press conference.
The same goes for news on Fernandez. His swollen knee issue does not sound severe, and we’ve seen him warming up with bandaging on it before, but again, we should have a more concrete update come Friday.
Reece James skipped the international break with England as a precuation after his hamstring history but his issue has been described as minor
Guiu fills two-club quota
Now that Marc Guiu has appeared for Chelsea after coming on as a substitute against Liverpool, the only club for whom he could leave on loan in the January transfer window would be Sunderland, due to football rules limiting players to appearing for two sides per season.
Guiu, 19, started the campaign on loan with the Black Cats before being recalled by the Blues after the hamstring injury to Liam Delap, who is due back in time for the festive period.
Delap’s return is expected to limit Guiu’s chances of minutes under Maresca, even if Chelsea’s manager is supposed to rotate heavily this season.
Banned Maresca will still have big say at City Ground
While Maresca is set to sit in the City Ground directors’ box to serve his touchline ban, following a red card for his celebrations in the late win over Liverpool, he will still be permitted to have a significant influence on the game itself.
The FA rules tell Maresca he can: communicate with colleagues within the dugout via telephone, a ‘runner’ or any other electronic device such as a radio or mobile phone; enter the changing rooms before kick-off, at half-time and after full-time; conduct pre-match and post-match press interviews.
Enzo Maresca won’t be on the touchline when Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Saturday
Maresca’s wild celebration in the win over Liverpool, that saw him receive a red card and touchline ban
Chelsea have been preparing tactically for Forest as if Ange Postecoglou will be in charge despite rumours around Sean Dyche replacing him.
The Blues are unlikely to lose sleep if it is a Postecoglou side they take on. Chelsea’s record versus the Australian reads: four games, four wins, aggregate 11-4 scoreline.