“He looks like a PlayStation-based player,” Cagliari coach Fabio Pisacane said. sky Recently in Italy. “Acceleration is 99%, etc. He looks good even when running. He looks like a leopard, and also like a leopard.” That person is Marco Palestra.
Cesc Fabregas is a fan. The great Arrigo Sacchi pushed for a call-up to the Italian national team. Gennaro Gattuso did his due duty. Luciano Spalletti once misheard his own name, but he was still hearing all about this rare talent rising at Atalanta.
The name Palestra means gym in Italian, so it would come as no surprise that the 21-year-old flanker has been confirmed to bring the athleticism that Xabi Alonso wants to see in the Chelsea side. But there is more to a signature than that.
Palestra is versatile and can play on either flank as a full-back or wing-back. He can cross with both feet and beat his opponents. Only Juventus favorite Kenan Yildiz completed more duties in Serie A last season than the young Italian international.
Palestra ranked second in Serie A complete wins in the 2025/26 season.
After enjoying Champions League football under Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta, Palestra’s loan move to Cagliari was just what he needed. It’s not always easy for young players to secure regular playing time in Italy, but Palestra has just been running, running, running.
“He pulled the cart, as they say, for seven or eight months at once,” Pisacane explained. “National team, everything.” He started on opening weekend. “In front of 70,000 people in Naples.” And he showed what he can do in the next game against Parma.
“He did that famous spin from the back and then we scored to make it 2-0.” In the next game, Andrea Belotti helped them beat Lecce and Palestra never looked back. “From then on Marco played all the way through.”
He was the last line of defense when scoring goals at Lecce and occasionally started in the front three at Cagliari. However, his most frequent position was right wing-back in Pisacane’s 3-5-2 formation, which was also used by Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.
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Sky Sports pundit Jay Bothroyd gives his thoughts on Palestra.
However, Palestra is young and flexible enough to be used in a variety of systems. Francesco Modesto, who coached Atalanta’s development team for one season in Serie C, points out that his ability to run with the ball with both feet is a quality that sets him apart.
“He has a dribbling ability that few have. For a right-footed player to carry the ball with his left foot means he has no idea which way it can go. He knows how to cross with both his left and right foot.” Palestra moved up to 9th place in Serie A with successful crosses from open play.
Palestra’s crosses were a feature of his game during his loan spell at Cagliari
He also ranks third for most corners won, which is further evidence of his ability going forward. This will be an integral part of his role in a back four or back five at Chelsea. Cagliari was the bottom team in terms of points and possession. There will be adjustments.
But those who have worked with him expect him to be ideally suited to make such adjustments. Modesto are on record as suggesting the Premier League could be a good fit for such talent. “It’s because of the physicality he has.”
That wasn’t always its strength. Palestra himself claimed that he was once slow. But a growth spurt in his mid-teens changed his physical abilities. Last summer, Bournemouth showed interest as they believed he would be suitable for fast-paced matches.
Palestra’s touch map for Atalanta in the 2024/25 Champions League
Scouts from across Europe who have visited Sardinia regularly over the past year will have noticed a habit of playing against stronger opposition. At Atalanta, he also appeared in the Super Cup against Real Madrid and earned a starting spot in the Champions League.
He was one of the few players to feature prominently in Italy’s play-off loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina last March as they were knocked out of the World Cup, and is seen as the future of the national team. His dribbling ability alone is seen as evidence of what is missing in Italian football.
There is also praise for his mindset and strong support network. “A boy with not only technical and tactical qualities, but also a good head on his shoulders, he has a family that helps him a lot. Serious people.” And the assurance that there is more to come.
“I think Marco hasn’t shown his full potential yet.” Pisacane said. sky. “Marco showed 60-70%. I don’t want to exaggerate.” If Alonso and Chelsea can help unlock the rest, Palestra, a soccer player on PlayStation, could be the real deal.
