Deal close
Marco Palestra set to sign for Chelsea – Atalanta to receive massive transfer profit
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Chelsea are set to hijack Inter Milan’s move for Marco Palestra from Atalanta. Transfermarkt can confirm a report byThe Athletic that a deal is close to being concluded. The 21-year-old was set to sign for the Serie A giants, but Chelsea have made an offer significantly above Inter’s. Chelsea’s personal offer to Palestra was twice what Inter offered, and the club has now agreed a €50m plus add-ons transfer fee with Atalanta.
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M. Palestra |  |
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In Palestra, Chelsea are set to sign one of the most talented players in Italy. “Originally, a right-back, the Cagliari talent can be used on both flanks and also play in midfield,” Transfermarkt Area Manager Italy, Jatin Dietl, saidas part of the Serie A market value update in December. “He combines tactical intelligence with power, tempo, and stamina. His athleticism, ability to win duels, and precise crosses make him a versatile player who has caught the eye of top clubs in Italy and Europe.”
Market Value
M. Palestra
Right-Back
€35.00m
Palestra spent last season on loan at Cagliari, where he emerged as a young star in Italian football. Despite his excellent season, Atalanta were always set in to cash in on the player rather than having him return to Bergamo. “Atalanta want at least €40m for the player,” Dietl said. “That suggests that he will continue his career in the Premier League rather than another Serie A club.” That prediction now appears to be coming true as Chelsea are closing in on signing Palestra.
Palestra “is a modern, attack-minded defender” – A perfect fit for Alonso?
“Palestra is a modern, attack-minded defender,” Dietlsaid as part of the March Serie A market value update. “He combines strong pace with high intensity, contributes consistently in the final third, and shows solid defensive awareness. All of Italy’s top clubs would certainly be interested in signing him, but Atalanta’s asking price, already significantly above his current market value, strongly suggests that his next step will be to the Premier League.” Those attributes will make him a perfect fit for the new manager, Xabi Alonso. Indeed, the wing-backs were a key component to Alonso’s success at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Stats
M. Palestra
Right-Back
Cagliari Calcio
37
1
4
In fact, Palestra has featured prominently in Serie A market-value reports over the last season. The defender had a market value of just €3.5m when he first joined Caligari on loan from Atalanta in the summer of 2025. In that period, Palestra has seen his market value explode to 35m. For Atalanta, Palestra is a model of how the club wants to develop talent. A player produced by their academy, they are now set to cash in on one of the biggest talents in Italian football at the moment.
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