Chelsea signing Marco Palestra is starting to make a lot more sense after hearing the defender talk about his positions on the field.
Chelsea are undergoing a complete overhaul of their full-back positions under Xabi Alonso. The left flank is in immediate need of restructuring following Marc Cucurella’s £52 million departure to Real Madrid, which has prompted BlueCo to identify Leeds United’s Gabriel Gudmundsson as a primary target.
On the opposite side, the right-back situation has changed following news that Marco Palestra has agreed to join Chelsea. Palestra’s arrival as a specialist wing-back directly threatens Malo Gusto’s long-term future, while captain Reece James is tipped to transition into midfield.
RATE 1️⃣-🔟: Is Marco Palestra a good signing?
Serie A's Best Defender of 2025-26.
Marco Palestra prefers to play at right wing-back
Amid all the talk of where Marco Palestra will play at Chelsea, he’s given some insight into his favourite positions and lack of interest in being a midfielder.
“If I had to choose, I would say the right, but I’m fine on the left too. I started out playing in midfield until the Under-17s, then they had a shortage of left backs due to injuries, so the coach put me there.
“I was really angry at first, I didn’t like it, but after three games I was moved to right back, and there I realised this could be my position.
“If I had continued as a midfielder, maybe I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wasn’t exactly someone who stood out.”
Has Reece James done enough to keep his England place for Panama?🤔
Palestra is the perfect signing for Chelsea and Xabi Alonso
Marco Palestra’s positional fluidity makes him the ideal prototype for Xabi Alonso’s vision at Stamford Bridge. Operating usually as a right-back or right wing-back, he has the ability to also play on the left, as well as in midfield if really needed.
The strategy is mirrored on the left with Valentin Barco, another highly creative, attack-minded full-back capable of shifting seamlessly across multiple positions. Rather than having single-profile defenders, Alonso is building a team of hybrid players.
It’s these kind of signings that are vital for an Alonso system.
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