Marco Palestra arrives at Chelsea largely as an unknown to English football fans. But there is plenty of hype around Palestra, and who knows him better than the man who signed him last summer?
Chelsea have hijacked Inter Milan’s move to sign 21-year-old Palestra, splashing an initial £43m to land the two-time Italy international from Atalanta. Palestra won Serie A’s best defender of the year for 25-26.
RATE 1️⃣-🔟: Is Marco Palestra a good signing?
Serie A's Best Defender of 2025-26.
Chelsea believe he can play in four different roles: both sides of the defence at full-back and wing-back. But the technical quality of Palestra, judging by his 25-26 stats, has caught the eye; certainly, his dribbling.
Xabi Alonso pushed for Palestra, and some reports even claim Alonso spoke to him on the phone in Italian. But what will encourage Chelsea fans is Guido Angelozzi’s verdict, and indeed his prediction.
Guido Angelozzi delivers Marco Palestra and Chelsea prediction
Angelozzi is one of Serie A’s most experienced technical directors. He’s spent the last 12 months with Cagliari, the man who orchestrated a deal to lure Palestra to Cagliari on loan for the 2025-26 season.
Angelozzi actually claims that he tried to sign Palestra 12 months prior, while he was Frosinone chairman, but a deal fell through. Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb, he backed Palestra to be a success at Chelsea.
“I’d been following him since the previous year, I was about to sign him from Frosinone. Then on the last day of the transfer window, they didn’t give him to me. I’ve known him since he was a youth player.
“He has everything: physique, strength, speed, dribbling. We’re talking about a complete player in every way. He’s also a great guy who lives for football, has a beautiful family that supports him,” he said.
“Also a good agent. He has everything it takes to have a great career.” Angelozzi was then asked if he had spoken to Palestra regarding a move to Chelsea. He said Chelsea’s offer was impossible to turn down.
“Yes, we spoke even when he wasn’t sure if he was going to Chelsea or Inter. I was hoping he’d go to Inter; I would have loved to see him still in Italy. But Chelsea made an offer that was irresistible.”
Just how good is Chelsea’s offer for Palestra?
Sources in England suggest a fee is an initial £43m to take Palestra to Chelsea. But according to Football Italia and other Italian outlets, Inter were offering around £39m with £4m more in add-ons this summer.
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Indeed, the same report claims that, actually, Chelsea are paying £47m before any add-ons. A deal that is likely to go beyond £50m with bonuses. Then, there is the wage Chelsea have agreed to pay Palestra.
Reports say Palestra is set to earn north of £100,000 a week, a huge wage for a player of his age. But with Marc Cucurella leaving, Chelsea certainly had some wiggle room and ultimately, have made a profit.
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