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How Chelsea turned Italy Sensation Cesare Casadei into a flop

  Hassan Afolabi January 6, 2025

Cesare Casadei is a subject of negotiation between Chelsea and Torino. The young midfielder looks set for a return to Italy after what can be termed a failed move to the Premier League giants.

When Chelsea scouted and signed the 21-year-old from the Academy of Inter in the summer of 2022, they received a lot of plaudits as Casadei was believed to be the next big thing to emerge from the annals of Italian football.

After more than two years of unfulfilled promises, and the club guilty to a large extent, Casadei is set to return to Italy with the title of a Chelsea flop.

The talented midfielder thrived at youth level for Inter and has sealed a place in the Italy youth teams. He had an impressive outing in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, where he scored seven goals and assisted one more in seven games, winning both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards as Inter finished second after a final loss to Uruguay.

Early days and defining loan moves to Championship

Upon his arrival, Casadei was integrated into Chelsea's development squads. Still, he proved too good for that level, hence his loan move to Reading in the Championship, to provide him with regular first-team experience.

Despite making a good impression in his 15 appearances, he couldn’t prevent The Royals’ relegation to League One following a 22nd-place finish.

Cesare Casadei returned to the Championship at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, joining Leicester City, where he became a crucial part of Enzo Maresca’s set up as the Foxes dominated and are well on course to return to the top-flight.

On his debut for Leicester, Casadei came off the bench to net a late winner against Cardiff City, making himself a huge fan favorite earlier on at the King Power.

 

 

 

With Casadei having a really nice time at Leicester City, scoring three and setting up two from midfield, in 25 games across all competitions, Chelsea decided to call him back halfway, and from there, his involvement and consistency started to go downhill.

How Chelsea failed Cesare Casadei as Italy's return looms

Chelsea's decision to recall Casadei in January 2024 was unexpected, especially given his regular appearances for Leicester and the fact that the Londoners are not active in many competitions.

Perhaps this is another one of Mauricio Pochettino’s biggest shortcomings at Chelsea. The Argentine cited squad depth as a reason, but Casadei would only play 17 minutes in the final six months of the season.

Chelsea also failed to secure him a loan move in the summer, albeit the youngster was not without suitors. He remained at the club for the first half of the campaign, and appeared just three times in the Conference League, while he remains without a Premier League appearance so far this term.

A regrettable move it has become for Casadei, who appears to see no light upon getting to the end of the tunnel at Chelsea. But this is the harsh reality for youngsters when they get a move to elite clubs.

Casadei, at the time of his move to Chelsea in 2022 must have been full of optimism, unfortunately, it was a time of transition at the club, and they went on to procure marquee players, freezing out the emerging ones.

Cesare Casadei accepts a move to Torino

Casadei is close to finalizing a move back to Italy and signing for Torino in a £10 million deal. Chelsea has given their green light but has also demanded a buyback clause to be included in the deal, highlighting their unwavering belief in the midfielder, despite how things have turned out.

 

 

Now 21, Casadei still has his future ahead of him. His priority will be getting his career back on track, and this move to a more familiar environment will do him a world of good.

For now, Casadei returns to Italy as a Chelsea flop. Whether or not he will consider a return to Stamford Bridge for a second audition, or if he’ll ever reach the level the club wants him to be at, remains to be seen.

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