Chelsea have completed the signing of Marco Palestra from Atalanta in a deal worth £43m.
The 21-year-old defender joined Atalanta's youth setup in 2014 and made his professional debut in December 2023.
Palestra made his senior Italy debut during a World Cup qualifying play-off against Northern Ireland in March, which came towards the end of a season-long loan at Cagliari.
He played 37 times in Serie A for the Sardinian club, contributing one goal and four assists.
Although predominantly a wing-back, Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso sees him as a versatile defender who can play multiple roles in defence on both the left and the right, including as a more defensive full-back.
"He seems like a player built on the PlayStation," Cagliari head coach Fabio Pisacane told Sky in Italy recently. "Ninety-nine per cent acceleration and so on. He is handsome even when he runs. He looks like a panther, like a leopard." That man is Marco Palestra.
Cesc Fabregas is an admirer. The great Arrigo Sacchi pushed for his call-up for the Italy national team. Gennaro Gattuso duly obliged. Luciano Spalletti did once get his name wrong but he had still heard all about this rare talent who was emerging at Atalanta.
That name, Palestra, means gym in Italian so perhaps it should be no surprise that the 21-year-old wide player has been identified to bring the athleticism that Xabi Alonso wants to see on the flanks at Chelsea. But there is much more to the signing than that.
Palestra is versatile, capable of playing on either flank, as a full-back or as a wing-back. He can cross with both feet and beat an opponent too. Only Juventus favourite Kenan Yildiz completed more take-ons than the young Italy international in Serie A last season.
