Juan Cuadrado is off to Chelsea - Vincenzo Montella
According Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Montella his star winger Juan Cuadrado has moved to Stamford Bridge as the transfer is virtually complete.
'It was a sale that had to be done,' said Montella. Chelsea bought Cuadrado for his buyout clause of £26.8million. The deal includes Chelsea’s Mohamed Salah going other way on loan. Montella added,
'The club has done the right thing because we are also getting a very good player.'
He stressed that Salah will have to adapt to Serie A and the manager is sure that he will in time adding that Cuadrado will be sorely missed. He also wished him luck on his new journey.
'Naturally, we need to understand how long he (Salah) will need to adapt to our football as it's different from the English and Swiss leagues.
'From a defensive standpoint, Cuadrado guarantees us a lot more than Salah.’
'Cuadrado is a player that has always arrived with a smile and given everything to Fiorentina. I am convinced that if he could have played tomorrow he would have.
'I'm happy for him because he is going to a big club.'
Cuadrado will slot in at the right hand side of the attack with Chelsea lacking an out and out right winger. He will also give Chelsea a traditional winger which they are lacking since ages and will also suit Mourinho’s direct tactics as he is defensively very sound and is an industrious winger.
It is tipped that he will replace Andre Schurrle in the squad who is moving to Wolfsburg for a reported fee of £21million. The German international has failed to break into Chelsea XI and is determined to return home in search of regular first team football.