Chelsea has asked about the availability of Marco Palestra, the 21-year-old Italian defender who just picked up the Serie A Best Defender award for the 2025-26 season. The interest is still at the inquiry stage, with no formal offer on the table.
Who is Marco Palestra?
Palestra is a right-back who spent this season on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta. He’s 21 years old, born in 2004 or 2005, and he’s already racked up 46 senior appearances between the two clubs, scoring one goal along the way.
He’s also being tracked as an Italy international prospect, which adds another layer to his profile.
Chelsea’s transfer strategy and the competition
