After a torrid start to his Chelsea career following a £23.3 million move from Fiorentina in February, Juan Cuadrado looks likely to make a swift return to Serie A in 2015-16, with Inter Milan and Roma leading the chase for his signature.
As domestic seasons across Europe come to a close, the inevitable transfer rumours continuously mount and players all around the world are linked with moves to other clubs. Strangely enough, one particular rumour involves a lightening-quick Colombian finding a new home within four months of having already moved.
Juan Cuadrado looked out of sorts at Premier League champion Chelsea, making just four starts and scoring no goals nor creating any. He looked a shadow of his former self – the one who marauded down the right-hand touchline for the Viola in Serie A, embarrassing opposition defenders with his pace and trickery, and displaying a marvellous work ethic as he tracked back to assist his side in defensive situations.
That Cuadrado evidently has not been forgotten though, as clubs in Italy (mainly Inter and Roma) look to acquire the Colombian’s services.
A straight off permanent deal is unlikely to take place between Chelsea and whoever it is that can convince the winger to don their colours. A more realistic agreement, however, appears to be a loan with the option to buy for a slightly lowered price come season’s end. The Premier League champions will obviously be keen to recoup most, if not all, of the outlay they spent on the wide-man, though given the financial restraints clubs in Italy are under it is doubtful this will occur. A set future-fee in the range of £15 to £20 million is probable.
Between the two clubs leading the race to land the Colombian, Inter Milan, according to sources in Italy, have been credited with edging Serie A rivals Roma.
The signing of Cuadrado would represent a signal of intent to its opponents and would be a real transfer coup for the Nerazzurri. The Colombian could prove to be the final piece in Roberto Mancini’s puzzle.
With the winger’s arrival, the manager may move back to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, adding obvious width to a team that was forced to utilise its full-backs in attack when no opening appeared in the centre.
An understanding between Cuadrado and Yuto Nagatomo, Davide Santon, Danilo D’Ambrosio or whoever else will feature at right-back for Inter is one that could strike fear into opposition defences. As well as this, the service that would be delivered to Serie A’s joint top scorer of 2014-15, Mauro Icardi, would be exceptional. The Colombian is known for his dangerous crosses and direct wing play, finishing as the joint top assist maker in the 2014 World Cup with four from five games.
On the topic of the World Cup, Cuadrado was scintillating for his country, setting the tournament alight with the South American nation and earning rave reviews from all across the globe. The speedster’s World Cup form was a major contributor to his subsequent move to Chelsea in February.
One of the Colombian’s main qualities that Jose Mourinho would have liked is his movement off the ball. With the ball, the winger is quick and very skilful, but without it he is just as efficient and dangerous. Cuadrado is clever enough to see gaps in opposition defences and makes intelligent runs into those gaps in order to receive the ball in threatening areas close to goal. The wide-man would find a lot of joy having a midfield maestro such as Mateo Kovacic in the lineup, slipping through passes to him on goal.
It is not just close to goal either where the winger is menacing. From outside the box, Cuadrado poses a significant threat, boasting wondrous technique when striking the ball, allowing him to create a stinging shot from distance.
Despite playing his last game for Fiorentina on January 25th, the Colombian still managed to finish fourth on Squawka’s performance score rankings in 2014-15 for the club from Florence, with 714. Had he remained at the club the entire season, it is likely he would have surpassed Gonzalo Rodriguez on 925.
Per 90 minutes, Cuadrado possesses an impressive pass accuracy of 87%. As well as this, he boasts a 59% average of duels won rate. This is equally as admirable as his pass accuracy due to the fact that the winger played many minutes at right wing-back in a 3-5-2 formation for the Viola, exhibiting his versatility.
As previously stated, the speedster could be seen by Mancini as the final piece in the puzzle at Inter. With a 4-2-3-1 formation, this is how the team could look with Cuadrado in the starting XI: Handanovic; Santon, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, Nagatomo; Kovacic, Medel; Cuadrado, Hernanes, Shaqiri; Icardi.
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That is a team balanced from back to front and capable enough to make an assault on the Champions League places in Serie A, especially considering the Nerazzurri will not be facing the rigours of European football in 2015-16.
With the Copa America just getting underway in Chile, Cuadrado can look back to his best again with Colombia, who he turned in many sparkling performances for at the 2014 World Cup.
If he does so, the signing of the fleet-footed winger would look an increasingly astute one, and he would wreak havoc on many a defence in Serie A for Inter Milan next season.
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