Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Italy international Marco Palestra from Atalanta in a deal worth €55 million plus bonuses, dramatically hijacking the player’s proposed move to Inter.
The Premier League club moved swiftly after manager Xabi Alonso specifically requested the recruitment of the Italy international. Palestra had appeared destined for Inter, with the Milan club reportedly close to finalising terms worth €45 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Negotiations between Inter and Atalanta had progressed to an advanced stage, with the clubs down to the details of how performance-related bonuses would be structured.
Chelsea’s late intervention changed the trajectory of the transfer within hours. The Blues offered Palestra a salary package substantially exceeding Inter’s proposal. Reports differ on the exact figure, with Sky Sport Italia indicating €5 million per season and La Gazzetta dello Sport suggesting €6 million annually. Either amount represents more than double the €2.5 million salary tabled by Inter, making the financial choice straightforward for the player despite his initial preference for remaining in Italy.
The London club also improved significantly upon the transfer fee, agreeing to pay Atalanta €55 million guaranteed plus €5 million in bonuses. This €10 million premium over Inter’s base offer, combined with the vastly superior personal terms, convinced Palestra to switch his destination to Stamford Bridge. Atalanta therefore accepted the improved proposal from the Premier League side, prioritising the higher guaranteed return.
The Italy international returns to Atalanta briefly after spending last season on loan at Cagliari, where he featured regularly in Serie A. The deal represents a significant statement of intent from Chelsea as Alonso begins reshaping the squad to his specifications. For Inter, missing out on a target at this late stage forces an urgent reassessment of their recruitment strategy, with the club now required to identify alternative options to strengthen their squad.