Manager suggests Chelsea summer signing is struggling at loan club

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Reading manager Paul Ince has explained on-loan Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei‘s lack of minutes since joining.

The 20-year-old joined Chelsea from Inter Milan in the summer for a reported fee of £12.6m (€15m) plus £4.2m (€5m) in add-ons, following an impressive season in Italian youth top competition Primavera 1.

Casadei had 14 goals and four assists from 30 appearances in the competition last term — a remarkable record for a midfielder.

He initially joined the development squad at Chelsea, as the club wanted to let him adapt to a new environment without any unnecessary pressure, and it worked quite well.

The Italy youth international had four goals and an assist in nine appearances in the Premier League 2.

So, it is no surprise that the club decided the next step for him is a loan spell in the Championship. He joined Reading on loan for the rest of the season, so he can compete in senior football.

However, instead of getting more minutes under his belt, Casadei spent the last three games on the bench following his debut against Watford.

“He’s only 20. When you come from Inter Milan, [there is] the culture shock of coming to a new country,” the former England international said after Reading’s defeat to Cardiff on Friday (via RDG.Today).

“To be fair he did OK in the first game, but he is 20, and you look at him in training, and you think he just needs a bit more experience.

“You’ve got to remember he’s coming from Italy, trained with the U21s or U23s – it’s not the same tempo as men’s football.

“He’s probably one of those where he’ll get better in the next two, three weeks once he knows the tempo of the game. The Championship is a tough, tough league.”

Of course, there are plenty more opportunities for the former Inter academy star this season.

“He’s still 20, but he’s still growing into his body. We’ll see a lot more of him this season,” Ince added.

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