Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has
confirmed that Juan Cuadrado will not play for
the Viola on Saturday, with the Colombian winger
finalising his permanent move to Chelsea.
Cuadrado is expected to undergo a medical in
London on Friday with Fiorentina’s permission
after both clubs agreed a transfer fee for the 26-
year-old.
Fiorentina are expected to receive €31 million
and as part of the deal, Chelsea’s out-of-favour
forward Mohamed Salah will be moving on loan in
the opposite direction.
When asked about Cuadrado’s potential move to
Chelsea, Montella told his club’s website on
Friday afternoon: “It was a sale that had to be
done.
“The club has done the right thing because we
are also getting a very good player.
“Naturally, we need to understand how long he
(Salah) will need to adapt to our football as it’s
different from the English and Swiss leagues.
“From a defensive standpoint, Cuadrado
guarantees us a lot more than Salah.
“Cuadrado is a player that has always arrived
with a smile and given everything to Fiorentina.
“I am convinced that if he could have played
tomorrow he would have.
“I’m happy for him because he is going to a big
club. ”
Cuadrado joined Fiorentina in 2012 from Udinese
and has been a regular in Montella’s side since.
The Colombian has scored four goals and set up
four more in 17 league appearances for
Fiorentina this season.
Cuadrado, who was one of the stand-out players
alongside James Rodriguez for Colombia in last
year’s World Cup in Brazil, was tied to the Viola
until June 2019.
Fiorentina play at Genoa on Saturday.
The Florence outfit have qualified for the quarter-
finals of the Coppa Italia and will take on
Tottenham in the last 32 of the Europa League
next month.
Chelsea have signed Fiorentina’s Colombia
forward Juan Cuadrado according to the Italian
club. Photograph: Maurizio Degl’Innocenti/EPA
Topics: Sport Soccer English Soccer
James Rodriguez Juan Cuadrado
Fri, Jan 30, 2015, 16:28
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