Thomas Tuchel has explained what Cesare Casadei can bring to Chelsea.
The midfielder completed an initial £12.6m move from Inter Milan last week and is seen as a long-term heir to both N’Golo Kante and Jorginho with the pair having entered the final year of their respective contracts.
A highly-rated talent in Italy, the 19-year-old is the latest investment into developing talents during what has been a busy summer for the club’s academy, with the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka and Omari Hutchinson also joining as part of a strategy billed as “Vision 2030”.
Head of Youth Development Neil Bath is being trusted with an overhaul as the club aim to create a teenage team operating below the starting XI, one able to plug gaps when needed while building towards starring roles in the future.
Casadei, who was also the subject of interest from French side Nice, will likely split duties between training with the senior squad while appearing in a number of Premier League 2 games.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Tuchel provided some further insight into the player.
“First of all, we need to give him time and not get overexcited because that would not do him a favour,” said the German.
“He’s a box-to-box midfielder, very strong with his head, very physical for his age but at the moment it’s important that he learns the language, he learns what Chelsea is all about and understands the culture and the principles to live and play for Chelsea.
“Then we will try and bring him to first-team training and open the doors for him. In the end, he needs to step through himself.”
