Cesare Casadei signed for Chelsea in the summer transfer window after completing a £17million move from Inter.
Casadei was one of three signings that fit in with Todd Boehly's new long-term vision at Stamford Bridge, along with the arrivals of Gabriel Slonina Omari Hutchinson and Carney Chukwuemeka. The American owner aims to protect the future of the Blues by signing talented youngsters now and allowing them time to develop at Cobham to eventually become key players at the club.
The Italian youngster has impressed at youth level for the Blues as he continues to stake a claim to become part of Graham Potter's first-team squad. Casadei has registered four goal contributions in just seven appearances, but his quality is clear for all to see, and he could begin to feature in the senior squad in the new year.
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It was clear that the 19-year-old would need time to adapt to England and settle into his new surroundings, but Casadei is now starting to show his true talent. In a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea's talented summer signing has named the player he sees himself most in and outlined the key reason why he chose to join the Blues.
Casadei said: "When the offer arrived, and I had the opportunity to have this new experience, I honestly took it with open arms. It wasn't an easy choice to make, and it wasn't easy, not even at the beginning, because I didn't know the language well, and I'm still learning it, but I felt like doing it to get out of my comfort zone.
"For the moment, I'm having fun, and it's a super positive experience. I grew up because I had to begin to get by on my own."
Casadei detailed how he is trying to fit in with his new team after just a few months and offered an insight into training under Graham Potter and his coaching staff at Chelsea. The talented youngster added: "I live 20 minutes from [Cobham], and I study English 3-4 times a week with a teacher.
"I've improved in this too compared to the beginning, but I have to learn it well, beyond football, because it is a language that today we need to know. There is more intensity here. The game speed is higher.
"Like training: you work much less dry and almost everything with the ball, starting with the warm-up. I look at those in my position, and here there are many from whom I can learn, now I say Loftus-Cheek, for his physicality in which, in a certain sense, I see myself, obviously knowing that there's a lot to work on.
"I like to play in many positions, I don't have a precise one, and even now at Chelsea, they are employing me in various positions in midfield [but] I make myself available where I can serve."
Casadei has been picked in the recent Italy U21s squad and face Germany in a friendly on Saturday. He has a chance to impress Graham Potter when he returns with many of the first-team away for the World Cup.
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