Great Article
Chelsea target Juan Cuadrado has the pace and technical ability to become a Premier League star While much of this summer was spent discussing the possibility of Arturo Vidal moving to Manchester United, fans of Fiorentina were concerned that their own South American World Cup star could become the primary target for the Old Trafford club. Both players would eventually remain in Serie A, but while the chatter surrounding the Chilean midfielder has fallen silent, talk of a move for Juan Cuadrado has once again grown extremely loud. But it is now Chelsea, rather than Louis van Gaal’s struggling side, who are being linked with the Colombian. The Blues have reportedly begun speaking to the Viola in hope of bringing the 26-year-old to Stamford Bridge in January. Their chances appear strong, particularly as it is now widely known that Cuadrado’s contract contains a buyout clause set at a reasonable €35million – a sum Chelsea can comfortably afford. As he orchestrated Fiorentina’s passage to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Wednesday evening, Vincenzo Montella insisted that there was “no possibility that Cuadrado will leave Fiorentina”... but the coach is fully aware of the situation. Then, at his press conference on Friday, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho denied the club are looking to sell either Mohamed Salah or Andre Schurrle, saying he was happy with his squad. However, the Portuguese coach did admit that the club's financial situation and FFP commitments meant that if "somebody pushed us with some offer for our players," they could reconsider that position. While Chelsea could absorb those departures, Fiorentina are not so fortunate: the injury woes of Giuseppe Rossi mean he is yet to feature this term, and in his absence the entire mood at Fiorentina has changed immeasurably. Gone is the carefree environment that saw the club contend for a Champions League place. The Tuscan outfit is currently sitting in sixth place in Serie A, a 16 gap having opened up between them and leaders Juventus. With Rossi on the sidelines, Cuadrado remains the one shining light in for fans of La Viola, and despite their struggles, he remains a joy to watch. He has six goals and four assists in all competitions. Fiorentina have also won every game in which he has found the back of the net, which only serves to highlight his importance to this team. There is so much more to his game than just scoring however, as his pace and trickery on the wing prove an unstoppable combination for even the best defences. Much like Eden Hazard, Cuadrado has that magical touch, that element of fantasy in his play that is unquantifiable by any statistic or number. He possesses the ability and slight-of-foot to first shift his marker in the wrong direction, before speeding off in the opposite direction leaving an embarrassed opponent in his wake. Creating chance after chance for his team-mates (most of which are squandered due to the lack of quality elsewhere) and that irrepressible ability is surely what attracts Chelsea to the former Lecce and Udinese man. Watching him closely, it is impossible not to notice Cuadrado's blistering speed, with his acceleration from a standing start particularly eye-catching. Those skills should prove useful in any league, although it must be noted that the Colombian international is not the prototypical ‘Mourinho player’. Perhaps best utilised on the right flank, he has proven to be hugely versatile, playing anywhere across the attack and even at wing-back in a 3-5-2 formation. He adhered to his task in that role, but could never be accused of being defensive-minded, seeking to break away at any instant and is far more comfortable on the ball than tracking it. Cuadrado averages 1.3 tackles and one interception per game, showing he does make an effort at that end of the field, but Mourinho will demand he applies himself far more consistently in that area of the game. It is well within the player’s capabilities, and should he move to England and fulfill what the Portuguese coach asks of him, the potential impact he could have on Chelsea’s season is immense. The addition of such a high quality attacking player, who is also available to join their quest for Champions League glory, is a rare opportunity, and it is easy to understand why they would be so interested in taking it. Having already seen Stevan Jovetic lured away from the Stadio Artemio Franchi for the riches of the Premier League, a sale now could prove disastrous for Fiorentina and their hopes of seeing an attacking trident of Cuadrado, Rossi and Mario Gomez appear to be a distant dream. The contract clause makes them almost powerless to resist the approach, despite the protests of Montella, and – having danced his way to the quarter-final of the World Cup – Juan Cuadrado could be stepping out in west London very soon.
