Marco Palestra says that Xabi Alonso’s “beautiful” football convinced him that Chelsea was the right club to join in the summer transfer window.
The wing-back signed a seven-year contract after the Blues paid an initial £43 million transfer fee to Atalanta. The deal includes a further a £5 million in potential add-ons.
The speedy Italian impressed while on loan with Cagliari last season, winning the Serie A Defender of the Year awards for his performances on the right.
The 21-year-old also attracted interest from Inter Milan, where he briefly spent time in the academy as a youngster before joining Atalanta. But talks with Alonso swayed him towards a move to Stamford Bridge.
Palestra reveals how Alonso convinced him to join Chelsea
“He told me what he wanted from me, his ideas, and other things,” Palestra told The Times. “Not only football. Yes, football, for sure, but not only. It was a good conversation about everything, so I was very happy with it. He likes me because he sees a lot of games from me. He likes my flexibility and because I can play on the right, the left, lower, high.
“For me, all the coaches are different. They have different ideas, but I like the football of Xabi. All the teammates like the football of Xabi — it’s a beautiful idea, so I’m happy to train and play the first matches with Xabi and my team-mates. For me, we can do a good season.”
Palestra also spoke with a number of compatriots before completing his transfers. He spoke with Atalanta teammate and former Chelsea defender Davide Zappacosta, as well as conversations with Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Arsenal’s Riccardo Calfiori, while Chelsea captain Reece James sent him a “beautiful” text to welcome him to the club.
“[It was a] beautiful message and I said hi to him when he came to Cobham one day after the World Cup,” Palestra says. “I know he is a good guy, a good captain, so I can’t wait to play with him also. I’m very happy — I know that he is a good guy.
“He said to me that he is happy I joined Chelsea and to write to him for advice, to know London, Cobham.”
Palestra added: “At the start of the season, I can’t imagine that I would win Serie A defender of the year, it’s a big honour to be the best defender but I know that it is only the start,” he says. “I need to improve myself every day but it’s a good start.
“I hope [to repeat it in the Premier League], maybe it’s difficult but I said the same at the start of the last season. I try to do my best. The first thing I want is to win for Chelsea. It’s always the team. If after the season, I also win the defender of the year, I am happy, but I prefer to win something for Chelsea and nothing for me.”
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