Chelsea’s Italian Raid: Palestra and Ramon Targets

Chelsea have moved aggressively into the Italian market, hijacking Inter’s move for Marco Palestra and immediately casting an eye towards Como defender Jacobo Ramon in what is fast becoming Xabi Alonso’s first big reshaping of the squad.

Alonso’s personal touch seals Palestra deal

The turning point in the Palestra chase was not a clause or a commission. It was a conversation.

With Inter Milan in advanced talks and Atalanta expecting to send their 21-year-old full-back to San Siro, Chelsea stepped in late – and Alonso went straight to the player. The incoming Chelsea head coach spoke directly with Palestra, a gesture that carried real weight for a young Italy international already admired across Serie A.

Those close to the player say that call changed everything. Alonso, who built his title-winning Bayer Leverkusen side on trust in young, versatile talent, made it clear he saw Palestra in the same mould. Not just a squad option, but a piece of his plan.

Palestra offers exactly the kind of flexibility modern coaches crave. He can operate as a right-back or right wing-back, but is equally comfortable on the left, either as a traditional full-back or pushing higher as a wing-back. For a Chelsea side that has shuffled between systems and struggled for balance, that profile matters.

Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport painted the scene in more detail, describing a long conversation in which Alonso even dropped in some Italian as he told Palestra he had followed him closely at Cagliari and been struck by his “English-style” physicality. The message was clear: there is a defined role for him at Stamford Bridge.

Competition will be fierce. On the right, Palestra is expected to battle Malo Gusto. On the left, he will be stepping into the space where Marc Cucurella recently operated. For Chelsea, it is a move that strengthens both flanks in one stroke.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed the breakthrough on X at 7:30am on June 24, reporting a verbal agreement between Chelsea, Atalanta and the player. Atalanta will receive a package worth over €55 million plus a sell-on clause, with Palestra signing a long-term deal as a right wing-back option tailored to Alonso’s demands. Chelsea, Romano stressed, have “hijacked” Inter’s move and delivered a new talent to their incoming coach.

Chelsea circle Como star Jacobo Ramon

The raid on Serie A is not stopping there.

Romano also revealed that Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, have been impressed by Jacobo Ramon, the 21-year-old Spanish centre-back who emerged as one of Como’s standout players last season under Cesc Fabregas.

Ramon joined Como from Real Madrid in the summer of 2025 and has grown into a commanding presence at the back. Under Fabregas, he helped drive the club to a remarkable qualification for next season’s Champions League, a leap that has not gone unnoticed across Europe.

Chelsea’s interest is real, but measured. Ramon is “appreciated”, Romano said on his YouTube channel, and sits among four or five names on the club’s shortlist for the centre-back position. He is not the only target, but he is firmly on the list.

The line of communication is already open. Talks between Chelsea and Como began over Trevoh Chalobah, who attracted interest from the Italian side. Como asked about taking the defender, but his price proved too high for them “at least at the moment”. Chelsea, sensing an opportunity, flipped the conversation and asked about Ramon.

There is a complication. Real Madrid still hold 50% of Ramon’s rights and have a buy-back clause, a structure that gives the Spanish giants a strong say in his future. Any move would need to navigate that co-ownership and the potential for Madrid to step back in if his value continues to rise.

Even so, the intent from Stamford Bridge is unmistakable. One deal in Italy is done, another is being explored, and Alonso’s fingerprints are already visible on the profile of players being pursued: young, tactically flexible, technically secure, and hardened by responsibility at an early age.

Palestra is on his way. Ramon is being tracked. If Chelsea land both, Alonso will walk into Cobham with not just a new job, but a back line quietly reshaped in his image before he has even taken charge of a match.