After days of speculation, the Marcos Alonso to Chelsea saga seems to be coming to an end with several news agencies confirming that the Blues have agreed terms with Fiorentina to sign the Spanish defender for a fee believed to be in the region of £23 million. The Spaniard joins the London club on a five-year deal. The Italian side had previously rejected Chelsea’s bid of £20 million. However, with Chelsea upping the fee, they were left with no choice but to encash upon one of their defensive mainstays.
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New manager Antonio Conte has been in the market for a number of defenders in order to secure the defence of the side in the long term, especially with John Terry in the final year of his contract with the club and the signing of Alonso is meant to add some depth to the side’s defence.
‘I’m very happy. It’s a step up in my career and I think this is the perfect place for me to continue developing. It’s time for me to win some titles.It was an easy decision for me to make when I heard the club were interested in signing me. My family and close friends know Chelsea is the club I have dreamed about playing for so I’m really excited about the challenge and I'm looking forward to working with my new team-mates,’ said Alonso in his first interview after joining the club.
Gives Antonio Conte flexibility
Though he was primarily deployed as a left-back at Fiorentina, he can also play as a centre-back as well as a defensive midfielder and his versatility is believed to be one of the reasons Conte had set his eyes on him. While the current left-back Cesar Azpilicueta has been a constant feature at the club, the departures of Baba Rehman and Kenedy on loan has weakened the defensive position of the club and the arrival of Alonso presents Conte with some breathing space
Has grown as a footballer in the last few years
The 25-year-old, who previously spent time in England with Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland, where he impressed during a loan spell, has seen his footballing stock rise rapidly after putting in impressive performances at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. A ball playing defender, Alonso is strong going into tackles, adds immensely to his side’s aerial presence and is an intelligent defender.
He used his tackling ability, aerial prowess and footballing intelligence to ensure that Fiorentina were one of the best defensive units in the Serie A last season and will be keen to replicate his performances in England.
His ability to remain tidy with his passing and stitch together intelligent passes will serve Conte is good stead as he can help his side build up play from the back of the park. In fact, he finished amongst the top 3 creators at Fiorentina last season and is very good at sending in dangerous crosses into the box, a skill that would add to the side’s attacking threat.
Despite the seemingly hefty price for the player, it remains to be seen where he will be deployed by Conte in the ongoing season. John Terry has begun the season on a sound note and Azpilicueta has established himself as one of the most consistent players at the club. With no European football to play for, Alonso might find playing time hard to come by in his first season.
Another possibility that is being discussed amongst the Chelsea faithful is that Azpilicueta, who is naturally a right footed player will be shifted to Right-back with Alonso being drafted in as the left-back.
The footballing future of Alonso largely depends on where Conte sees him in the long term future. Should he be singled out for a future in the centre of the defence, he might have to spend a season on the fringes and he would do well to learn the intricacies of the trade from one of the best central defenders of all times in England in the form of John Terry.
