{"id":672,"date":"2026-08-08T07:56:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=672"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:56:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:56:24","slug":"marco-palestra-takes-advice-from-former-chelsea-defender-as-he-chases-legend-status","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=672","title":{"rendered":"Marco Palestra takes advice from former Chelsea defender as he chases ‘legend’ status"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Marco Palestra is leaning on his fellow Italians to help him settle in to life at Chelsea.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marco Palestra<\/a> completed a \u00a347 million transfer to Chelsea from Atalanta, signing a seven-year contract through 2033. The 21-year-old right-back arrived in West London following a standout 2025\/26 campaign on loan at Cagliari, where he earned the Serie A Defender of the Year award.<\/p>\n

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Integrated straight into Chelsea\u2019s pre-season schedule, Palestra has logged key minutes in friendlies<\/a>, including starts against Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus. <\/p>\n

Demonstrating the quality that prompted his summer move, Palestra\u2019s early performances offer promising indications of his seamless adaptation to English football.<\/p>\n

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Thoughts after another pre-season defeat under Xabi Alonso?\ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Marco Palestra and Davide Zappacosta keep in touch <\/h2>\n

Davide Zappacosta<\/a> joined Chelsea from Torino in 2017 for around \u00a323 million. Primarily serving as a squad player under Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri, the Italian made 52 total appearances, scoring two goals, including a memorable strike on his Champions League debut.<\/p>\n

And he happens to have been in contact with Marco Palestra, who has been leaning on the former Chelsea man to help him settle in to life at Stamford Bridge. <\/p>\n

\u201cI spoke with Davide Zappacosta after I joined Chelsea. I played with him at Atalanta.\u00a0He\u2019s a top guy. I have a good relationship with Zappa. He always talked good things from Chelsea. I know a lot of Italian players played here. I want to be the next top one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked by an interviewer about potentially becoming a legend at Chelsea, he had this to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would like to become a legend, too? \u2018Maybe, maybe, I hope,\u2019 he says. \u2018I know some Italian players came to Chelsea.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the real test will be seeing how Palestra adapts to life in the Premier League, as we\u2019ve seen many players fail after making the switch from Serie A.<\/p>\n

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