Chelsea are finally set to make their first signing of the Xabi Alonso era in Italian defender Marco Palestra from Atalanta, and Italy legend Gigi Buffon is a huge fan.
Palestra, 21, has spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Cagliari and was voted Serie A’s best defender of the year. He returned to Atalanta, but realistically, he was never going to play for his parent club again.
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Serie A's Best Defender of 2025-26.
Inter Milan have been pursuing Palestra for a while, and believed they had done a deal to land Palestra from Atalanta for a fee below £40m. Chelsea and Man City had initially been linked with the Italy ace.
But then, on Tuesday night, it emerged that Chelsea had blown Inter Milan out of the water. Chelsea have agreed a £43m deal for Palestra, managing to convince the defender with a bigger wage than Inter.
The one word Gigi Buffon used to describe Marco Palestra’s form
While he might be relatively unknown in England or even across Europe, Palestra’s reputation has grown dramatically in his home country. Palestra has been brilliant over the last 12 months in Italy’s top flight.
Chelsea believe he will be able to play in four different positions, as his reputation continues to blossom. Even Buffon is a big fan, quoted by Football Italia as describing Palestra as “something extraordinary”.
During his role as Italy’s head of delegation before resigning, he said: “Regardless of age, the national team is for those who deserve it. Of course, you need a certain core group; you get nowhere without one.
“You have to know how to use young players without burdening them with responsibilities. You must take fearlessness from young players. A big surprise has been Palestra; he’s shown something extraordinary.”
What Palestra’s arrival means for Chelsea’s current players
Chelsea have a few options at right-back at the moment, with Reece James at the top of the pecking order above Malo Gusto and Josh Acheampong. Even Mamadou Sarr played at right-back last season.
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Acheampong is considered one of seven ‘untouchables’ at Chelsea this summer. A decision that has gone down well with Chelsea fans, who feel Acheampong is a real talent that Chelsea must keep and secure.
Gusto is a target for Man City after Chelsea and City agreed a compensation fee for Enzo Maresca. The Italian is a big fan of Gusto, and a move for the France international seems more than likely right now.
That would leave Palestra, James and Acheampong as options at right-back, but Xabi Alonso could well be planning to use James as a midfielder next season. Otherwise, why would Palestra be signed?
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