It took awhile, but Jose Mourinho has finally gotten his man: Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Montella confirmed that Juan Cuadrado is heading to Chelsea.
Deal Done: Juan Cuadrado heads to Chelsea for €33 million
After weeks of speculation, Fiorentina has finally relented and sold their star winger to Chelsea.
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The Colombian international moves to England for a fee of some €33 million, with Fiorentina also taking Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah on loan to help them plug the gaping hole Cuadrado leaves in their squad. The Italian club had been extremely hesitant to sell Cuadrado, who has been vital to their side for the last 18 months, scoring 11 league goals last season and another four so far this campaign. Losing him will be a major blow to Fiorentina, who had already been struggling to replicate the success that lead them to finish fourth in Serie A last year.
For Chelsea, the move could have a very large impact. Cuadrado's athleticism and high-motor style is a perfect fit for Mourinho, and he should definitely help solidify the right wing of Chelsea's attack, a spot that has been troublesome at times this season. He passes and crosses well, drives in to the box effectively both with and without the ball, and his willingness to defend from the front is something Mourinho will appreciate.
On days that Cuadrado doesn’t start, Mourinho will also appreciate the Colombian’s versatility; he can play up and down the right flank -- though you shouldn’t expect defensive miracles if you play him at fullback -- and he can even play as a supporting striker if needed. It’s not often you can get your hands on a complete player of quality like Cuadrado, and at 26 years he might even get a little bit better, too. It’s a pricey deal, but it’s hard not to like it if you’re a Chelsea fan.
This move helps Chelsea complete a squad that was probably already the best and most talented in the Premier League. Their rivals can only helplessly flap their hands and wonder why a team that was already so good needed to get better. What Fiorentina does with this financial influx will be interesting to see, though without Cuadrado their task of trying to find a way to finish in Italy’s Champions League places will be much harder.
