Chelsea have signed Marco Palestra from Atalanta for £47m

The move marks a rapid progression from Italy’s third-placed Atalanta under-23 side to the top-flight. Chelsea in three years.

He made his senior Atalanta debut in the Europa League in December 2023, but his development was accelerated by his loan spell at Cagliari last season, which saw him finish in a high-pressure World Cup play-off for Italy.

At Cagliari, Palestine attempted 73 dribbles at a distance of more than 5mm – the most of any defender in Serie A – only surpassed by Juventus winger Kenan Yıldız in the competition.

Palestine’s 70 successful dribbles were the most of any defender in Europe’s top 10 leagues, while he won 15 fouls in the final third, the most by a defender in Europe’s top 5 leagues last season, according to Opta data.

No player has covered the distance faster in Serie A while on loan at Cagliari.

It was a campaign in which Palestine went from strength to strength. Former Cagliari sporting director Guido Angelozzi, who signed him last summer, told BBC Sport that the club faced strong competition from Italy and Europe for his services.

Angelozzi said they gave Felstra “the right environment” to compete at the highest level under pressure, while also allowing them the freedom to make mistakes. He added. ChelseaThey looked for character references with other famous European clubs.

He said: “The first thing that struck me was his maturity. He is a very curious young man – always willing to listen but with a strong personality.

“He’s hard-trained and constantly looking to improve. He’s polite, level-headed and very serious about his day-to-day work. These qualities will inevitably carry over onto the pitch.”

Chelsea He observed Palestine for more than a year. They know they are signing an attack-minded defender and will be buoyed by Palestine’s versatility – he can play as a defender or wing-back and has started life in midfield.

It could be the first hint that Alonso will play in a back-three system at Stamford Bridge, which Bayern Munich used to great effect as they lifted their first Bundesliga title in 2024.

Angelozzi added: “As a player, Marco combines technical quality with football knowledge. He has a good sense of timing, the ability to read situations and a natural comfort in making decisions under pressure – qualities that are rare at his age.”

But what I admire most is his willingness to make sacrifices: he is a player who works for the team, accepts tactical instructions and never gives up.

“Like all young players, he still has room to grow, but the foundation is very strong. If he keeps this mindset, I believe he has all the qualities to build a high-level career.

“Today he is a more complete, mature player and, most importantly, mentally ready to step up to the top.”

Chelsea Despite strong interest from Inter Milan, the acquisition of Palestina will require encouragement, with Atalanta looking to keep him, while clubs including Juventus, Napoli and Roma have been linked over the past six months.