New Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has completed his second major signing of this summer’s transfer window by bringing Juventus defender Daniele Rugani to the club for £44m on a five-year contract. This news comes directly from Italy as the new boss looks to sure up his defence and get to grips with his new squad.
The 23-year-old Italian centre-back has come through the Juventus youth system so it is a big decision for him to leave his boyhood club. He has made a total of 54 appearances for the Serie A champions whilst also spending two seasons on loan at Empoli when he was attempting to make an impression on the Juve first team.
With seven caps already under his belt for the national side and having represented them at every level since u17, Rugani certainly has the pedigree to be a world class defender. At such a young age he also can grow and reach his massive potential at the Blues.
Chelsea are looking to get going in the transfer window after an uncertain start. The arrival of their new boss brought fellow Serie A star Jorginho to Stamford Bridge and Sarri is now looking to bring in more players he knows h can rely on. Gonzalo Higuain, his former striker, is also hotly linked with a move to the Blues.
Chelsea, who are without Champions League football next season, are looking to build on their FA Cup triumph from last season and get themselves up into the top four once again. Uncertainty seems to be surrounding the club and hopefully, this signing will give the fans a bit of belief and excitement heading into the new season.
After a slow summer, Chelsea finally got going with the sacking of former manager Antonio Conte who was swifly replaced by fellow Italian Maurizzio Sarri. Sarri came with his Napoli Proteje Jorginho and has insisted want away star Eden Hazard will not be sold to Real Madrid as widely reported.
Sarri, speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, described Hazard as “one of the top two or three European players”.
The former Napoli boss said: “Hazard is a very high-level player. I hope that I will manage to improve him.”
Roberto Martinez, the Belgium manager, told Spanish radio recently that Hazard should consider leaving Chelsea to further his career.
The forward, for his part, responded to the Real Madrid reports by telling journalists last Saturday: “You know my preferred destination.
“I can decide if I want to stay or go but Chelsea will make the final decision – if they want to let me go.”
Sarri said he wanted to meet Hazard, who is away on holiday after representing Belgium at the World Cup.
“I would like to have fun during the week with him. This would mean very good results and mean we would have been very competitive during the season,” added the 59-year-old Italian.
Asked if he planned to phone Hazard – or any other player linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge – Sarri added: “A telephone call without looking them in the eye would not give me any certainty.
“I’d like to meet them face to face. I would also like a player to come on the [training] pitch four or five days to have a clear idea.”
Sarri suggested that England defender Gary Cahill has a future at Stamford Bridge, despite reports that the new manager is looking at signing centre-back Daniele Rugani from Juventus.
On Cahill, Sarri said: “I think he can still give us a lot.” Whether Sarri’s intentions of keeping both stars comes into fruition hangs in the balance.