Chelsea recently completed a deal with Italian Serie A side Fiorentina to sign winger Juan Cuadrado for around £24M. The 26-year-old signed a four year deal, and comes in as Andre Schurrle was sold to German Bundesliga giants Wolfsburg. But what can the Chelsea supporters expect to see from their newest arrival?
Cuadrado impressed in the 2014 World Cup with Colombia, scoring and assisting five goals in as many games in the competition, which led to interest rising his signature in the summer transfer window. He came off the back of an incredible campaign in the Serie A, scoring 11 goals and making five assists, and was regarded as one of the best wide men in the league at the time.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho identified the position he felt the Blues needed strengthening in to boost their chances of winning the Premier League title and challenging in the Champions League, but Cuadrado hasn’t joined to sit on the bench.
The newest arrival is a highly creative player, much more so than William and Schurrle, but he is also a player in the Mourinho mould when it comes to work rate. The 26-year-old can play as a wing-back, so he won’t neglect his defensive duties, which means he will be a big-game player.
It won’t be long before Cuadrado is knocking on the door for a starting role in the side, which puts Willian under pressure to perform to stay in the team, but Chelsea have real quality on both flanks following the signing.
The Colombian has excessive pace and is tricky going forward. He was difficult to contain in the World Cup, and his attacking style should set the Premier League alight too. But in addition to the technical ability and skills he possesses, he’s also engrained in the South American work ethic, and provides defensive stability on the right hand side too.
If Cuadrado can replicate his Serie A performances for the second-half of the current Premier League season, Chelsea will have their hands on a cracking talent, reaching the prime age of his career. Considering they made a net spend of just £2M, using the majority of funds from the sale of Schurrle, Chelsea have been shrewd in the market with Cuadrado’s signing. The Colombian joined the Londoners off the back of an incredible 18 months for club and country, and could well help Mourinho’s men to the Premier League title.
