Chelsea ‘have been following Palestra for a year’ – Ex Cagliari director | OneFootball

The man who first brought Marco Palestra to Cagliari has revealed that Chelsea’s interest in the young right-back was no last-minute intervention, the Premier League club had been tracking the player for an entire year before finally moving to complete the signing ahead of Inter.

Guido Angelozzi, the former Cagliari sporting director who took a chance on Palestra last summer, made the disclosure to Corriere dello Sport, confirming what had long been suspected, that Chelsea were operating in the background throughout Inter’s protracted pursuit of the Atalanta defender, waiting for the right moment to strike.

CAGLIARI, ITALY – MARCH 20: Marco Palestra of Cagliari reacts during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and SSC Napoli at Stadio Sant’Elia on March 20, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Chelsea finally get their man as Inter miss our on Palestra

The revelation adds important context to why the deal ultimately swung Chelsea’s way.

Inter had agreed personal terms with Palestra and reached a broad understanding with Atalanta over a fee in the region of €50 million, but the player ultimately chose the Premier League, a decision that now appears to have been shaped by a longer-standing Chelsea relationship than had previously been understood.