Chelsea's transfer tactic highlighted by the Bertrand Traoré affair

Bertrand Traoré's phone sometimes emitted a beep and the name on the screen was that of Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard. It was before Traoré, while on loan at Ajax, faced Manchester United in the Europa League final in 2017.

Traore had sent his own congratulatory message to Hazard when Chelsea won the Premier League under the direction of Antonio Conte.

Once upon a time Chelsea hoped that Hazard and Traore would represent the future of the club and that the story of his rise would be inspiring.

Bertrand Traoré poses with a Chelsea shirt after his arrival at the club in 2014

Once upon a time Chelsea was hoping that Eden Hazard and Traore would represent the club's future.

A 2011 UN report designated Burkina Faso as the world's seventh poorest country, but the country's outstanding teenage footballer had been able to capitalize on the wealth of the Premier League. Now 23 years old and in Lyon, he faces Barcelona in the Champions League this week.

The striker first caught Chelsea scouts' attention at the age of 14 at the 2009 Under-17 World Cup. At the time, he was training to the French club Auxerre. The European elite is interested, but FIFA rules prohibit the international transfer of a minor under 18 years of age.

As such, Chelsea was in a dilemma. After identifying one of the most exciting young players on the planet, legislation has prevented their attempts to pin it down. He could not sign a contract. But Chelsea seemed determined to find a way to capture talent in front of her rivals.

He drew the attention of Chelsea scouts at the age of 14 at the 2009 Under-17 World Cup.

Traoré first appeared in Chelsea in August 2010, when the sports minister of Burkina Faso announced prematurely that the player would sign for the club.

Traore himself spoke of the reception of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou in September 2011 as a "little brother". A month later, he played in a game for under-18s.

Football Leaks claimed that Chelsea paid his mother more than £ 150,000 in April 2011, guaranteeing a first signature option. An additional £ 13,000 was paid to AJE Bobo-Dioulbado, a club chaired by Traoré's mother.

Traoré would have lived in Wimbledon for two years. He would attend the Whitgift Sports School, where the former Chelsea player was run by American football, Colin Pates.

Traoré in action for the current Lyon club in a Champions League match with Barcelona this week

Traoré would have benefited from two extended probationary periods in Chelsea, apparently with a student visa, before his 18th birthday. At 17, he joined Jose Mourinho's team during a preparatory tour in 2013 and began his matches in Bangkok and Jakarta.

However, his signature was recorded only in January 2014, after the age of 18. The allegation, refuted by Chelsea, is that the club could have reached an agreement or obtained incentives from the player and his family before his 18th birthday.

FIFA has not confirmed that Traoré is one of 29 players whose signatures have resulted in a transfer ban imposed on Chelsea for two windows. Still, that seems likely.

Even now, the cordon between Traoré and Chelsea persists. When signing in Lyon in 2017, Chelsea would have inserted a buyback option. For better or for worse, this relationship and its ramifications seem to last a long time.