'We are like PSG' - Sarr

New Chelsea defender Mamadou Sarr believes he is ready for the big stage at Stamford Bridge and reckons his new squad can be young winners - like Champions League-winning Paris St-Germain.

joined in an £11.9 million deal from Strasbourg – a club also owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital – becoming the first player to move towards Chelsea from France since the BlueCo era at both clubs.

But Sarr dismisses that being part of Strasbourg was just a way to get into Chelsea.

"I joined Strasbourg to play for Strasbourg, then Chelsea came to me," Sarr said at the Club World Cup in the United States. "I knew of some interest approximately in November, December. Then in January I had an idea that it was possible [to move]. When one of the biggest clubs come to you, it is so exciting."

Sarr was an unused substitute in the 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC that began Chelsea's campaign in the newly expanded competition.

The Blues are not only competing on the world stage but have also qualified for next season's Champions League.

But where does Sarr fit in?

"I have to progress, to work hard to get minutes," he said. "These are the best players in the world. I need to work hard."

Sarr may be content to initially be a squad player but has high hopes for himself having helped Strasbourg qualify for the Conference League, despite them being the youngest team in Europe's top five leagues.

His former manager Liam Rosenior told the Athletic that Sarr "has everything to become world class", joking in another interview that he is such a fan of Sarr that he could be his father.

Sarr has stated he wants to be the best defender in the world, looking up to Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, but conceding his style is more similar to the Reds' defensive partner Ibrahima Konate.

He also believes that Rosenior has a similar style of play that will help his adaptation, a deliberate ploy by the ownership to help players move between clubs. For instance, midfielder Andrey Santos also back at Stamford Bridge after a successful 18-month loan spell in Ligue 1.

Chelsea face Brazil giants Flamengo in their next Club World Cup game and could play PSG in the quarter-finals, a club Sarr knows well.

"There are a lot of similarities (between Chelsea and PSG)," Sarr continued. "I played them twice last year. They are a very good team. Chelsea is a very good team. We can compete with them and beat them.

He added: "Every club wants to show that they are the best team in the world. Chelsea want to be the best team in the world so we want to win."