Batshuayi’s move to Dortmund has boosted his World Cup chances: Martinez

Bengaluru, February 21: Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has claimed that forward Michy Batshuayi's decision to move from Chelsea is one of the finest decision for his career and the player is strongly back in World Cup contention after relishing a huge start to his time in Germany.

Olivier Giroud, Batshuayi and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were involved in a three-way transfer among Chelsea, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.

Aubameyang forced out a move from Dortmund to Arsenal while Arsenal star Giroud went on to sign for arch-rival Chelsea after failing below pecking order in the Gunners set up after the signing of the Gabon striker.

On the other hand, Chelsea's signing of Giroud made Batshuyayi move on for more game-time and Dortmund used the opportunity and signed the player on loan for the rest of the season.

The Chelsea striker has settled in quickly with the German side, scoring five goals and providing one assist in his first four matches.

And while talking about the forward, Belgian boss Martinez has now suggested he has been impressed by what he has seen so far from the 24-year-old in Germany and by choosing a side where he can play regularly boosted his World Cup hopes.

Belgium boss Martinez said to talkSPORT: “To play at a World Cup is a unique moment in your career, so you have to be able to play and perform at club level in order to be in that squad.

“For Michy Batshuayi, it’s not about staying in the Premier League, it’s about finding a club where you can have a big role and you can feel you have an influence in the team.

“Michy was always ready at Chelsea, but the competition was really strong in that number nine role. He has gone to Borussia Dortmund and as a striker you need to score that first goal as quickly as you can, he scored two in his debut.

“You can see he is happy, free and sometimes a move in the winter window gives you that.

“For Michy, it’s given him a very strong opportunity to be in the World Cup squad because of the environment he’s found.”

Batshuayi joined Chelsea from Marseille for £33.1m in 2016 but was never able to book a guaranteed first-team spot. He played only 24 matches over one and half years at Stamford Bridge scoring 10 goals in all competitions before moving to Dortmund in the last window.