Chelsea Eye Juventus Star Cambiaso as Cucurella Replacement Under Alonso

Chelsea are preparing to make a bid for Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso as they look to fill the void left by Marc Cucurella's departure to the Spanish capital.

Cucurella's switch to Real Madrid was confirmed on June 15, with the Blues receiving £52million for the left-back, who is currently representing Spain at the 2026 World Cup. Despite earlier speculation linking him with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, it was Carlo Ancelotti's side who secured the player's services.

With Xabi Alonso set to take the managerial reins from July 1, Chelsea face an immediate recruitment challenge at left-back. The club's current options—20-year-old Jorrel Hato and 21-year-old Caleb Wiley, fresh from loan spells at Strasbourg and Watford respectively—lack the experience needed for a squad of Chelsea's ambitions.

Italian media has now reported that Chelsea's ownership structure, BlueCo, intends to move for Cambiaso. According to journalist Mirko Di Natale, the Juventus man features prominently on Alonso's wishlist, with official negotiations anticipated in the coming days. Juventus are holding firm on a €40million (£34.6m) asking price.

Cambiaso, contracted to the Turin giants until 2029, has earned considerable praise for his technical versatility. The Italy international can operate as either a left-back or left wing-back and possesses genuine two-footed ability—a quality that has drawn comparisons to one of the game's greatest defenders.

Mauro Tassotti, the former AC Milan stalwart who worked alongside Cambiaso during his time as Genoa's assistant manager in 2021/22, drew parallels with Paolo Maldini himself. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport in December 2023, Tassotti highlighted Cambiaso's rare ambidextrous gift and positioning intelligence, though he acknowledged that the youngster lacked Maldini's physical dominance and defensive prowess.

"I haven't yet understood whether he is right or left-footed," Tassotti explained. "In this sense, he is similar to Paolo Maldini who however was much more powerful from a physical standpoint, had incredible charisma and was also very strong defensively, so much so that he ended his career as a centre-back."

Tassotti suggested Cambiaso's optimal role came as a wing-back, capable of functioning as a fifth defender in a 3-5-2 formation or adapting to a conventional full-back berth in a four-man line.

Igor Tudor, the former Tottenham manager who subsequently managed Cambiaso at Juventus, shared Tassotti's enthusiasm. Speaking in September 2025, Tudor praised the defender's footballing intelligence and positional awareness, noting that he possessed the mindset of a midfielder despite his defensive responsibilities.

"He's a top-level player," Tudor said. "He needs to be more consistent in his performances, and he has to work and grow. Potentially, he's a player for the best clubs in the world, but it's up to him to decide."

Tudor added: "He can play at Liverpool, Real Madrid or Manchester City, the top clubs in the world, but he has to say: 'I'll get there because every Sunday, I'm the best.'"