ไทย
English
中國人
Chelsea's latest recruit Marco Palestra has opened up about Xabi Alonso's role in convincing him to sign a seven-year contract from Atalanta.
The Blues are reported to have struck an initial €57 million ($64.9 million, £49.2 million) agreement with the former Europa League champions, a figure that could rise to €60 million when add-ons are factored in.
Serie A title holders Inter had been pursuing Palestra, but Chelsea stepped in last week to secure the deal for the player, who becomes the first signing of the Alonso era.
"It was very important," Palestra told Chelsea's official channels about Alonso's impact on his decision. "I feel a lot of energy from him. Also, he is one of the best managers in the world [as you can see when] he won at Bayer Leverkusen. It's important for me to have Xabi Alonso as the manager.
"I've had two conversations with him and I'm very happy because he told me exactly what he expects from me. I'm really pleased to meet him and to begin training with Chelsea."
What Palestra's Signing Means for Chelsea
Chelsea have historically thrived when deploying three center backs alongside wing backs. Antonio Conte arguably transformed English football when he introduced the system during his tenure at Stamford Bridge—a decision sparked after watching his side suffer a 3–0 defeat to rivals Arsenal, at a time when the Gunners were far from the force they are today.
Conte went on to claim the Premier League title following that tactical shift, and numerous managers sought to replicate the setup with their own subtle variations. Thomas Tuchel was another advocate of the formation, ultimately guiding his side to an unlikely Champions League triumph while utilizing it.
A conventional back four has been the preferred setup for the managers who followed, most recently Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior. However, the arrival of Alonso, who clinched the Bundesliga title with a 3-4-2-1 system, hints that a return to Chelsea's earlier approach may be on the horizon.
Palestra has largely operated as a right wing back for Atalanta within a comparable system, though he is equally adept on the left side. That flexibility is welcome news for Chelsea supporters following Marc Cucurella's unexpected move to Real Madrid.
"If I have a choice, I obviously prefer the right, but I'm equally comfortable on the left and have no problems," Palestra previously told DAZN regarding his positional versatility.
What Business Chelsea May Look to Do Next
Should Alonso opt for a three-center-back setup, Chelsea are likely to enter the transfer market to bolster their defensive options. It also appears probable that certain current squad members—most notably Trevoh Chalobah—will be offloaded as part of a squad refresh aimed at moving the club forward.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
Without the demands of European football next season—much like Manchester United's situation last year—this opening campaign under Alonso could serve as something of a rebuilding phase. Fresh central midfield options may be needed, though moving players in and out will present its own challenges, as will attracting top-tier talent to drive Chelsea's ambitions.
The volume of departures may ultimately dictate how active Chelsea can be in the market, and the club will be hoping that Alonso's standing in the game, just as it proved decisive for Palestra, is sufficient to persuade players that their futures belong in west London.