Chelsea star set for career-changing transfer

Real Betis and Villarreal are both interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei on loan during the January transfer window, as per reports in Spain.

The Italy U21 international was heavily linked with a departure this summer, but he opted to remain at Stamford Bridge despite significant competition for places at the club.

However, Spanish outlet Fichajes claim that he could now be set to leave Chelsea in January amid interest from La Liga clubs Real Betis and Villarreal.

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Casadei has featured prominently in the Europa Conference League so far this campaign, amassing 244 minutes of action in the competition, but he is yet to make a Premier League appearance in 2024-25.

Furthermore, the former Inter Milan academy star has only been included in two of Chelsea’s 12 matchday squads in the English top flight this season.

Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia are firmly ahead of Casadei in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and with Andrey Santos set to be rewarded with a first-team place next season, he may need to leave Chelsea to further his career.

As a result, a January loan move to Spain could be the perfect platform for the 21-year-old to kickstart his senior career and put himself in the shop window for a permanent move next summer.

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What has Cesare Casadei said?

In October, Casadei revealed that he turned down the chance to leave Chelsea this summer, in favour of developing further under Enzo Maresca.

“Last season was not very easy for me,” Casadei admitted. “So at the start of the season I was thinking about what the best solution was for me.

“But after I spoke to the manager, I was 100 percent sure the decision to stay would be best for me, my career and my improvement.

“There were some possible loans but I spoke to the manager and he told me what he thinks and I had no doubts from that moment.

“I always wanted to play for Chelsea, one of the biggest teams in the world, so I could not be more proud to play for Chelsea and this is my goal, to play for this team. So I had no doubts.”