Photo: Ank kumar / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Marco Palestra has caught the eye in Chelsea's pre-season campaign, with manager Xabi Alonso singling out the 21-year-old defender for praise after a 3-0 victory over Milan in Jakarta.
Palestra joined Chelsea from Atalanta this summer after a breakout loan spell at Cagliari in 2025/26, during which he was named Serie A Defender of the Year and earned his first Italy caps.
"He is having a great impact," Alonso said following the win at GBK Stadium, secured by a brace from Joao Pedro and a volley from Moises Caicedo. "He has a hunger and desire to improve and give his best, and in every game he is getting better and better."
Alonso deployed Palestra on the left flank against Milan — a change from his usual right-side role — and the Italian was effective in both attack and defence as Chelsea kept a clean sheet.
"He played in a different position today, but I knew from his time in Italy he is very flexible and versatile in his game," Alonso added. "We are happy he is having such a good adaptation [to life at Chelsea]."
The match was Chelsea's fourth fixture of their summer tour and brought their stay in Jakarta to a close. Alonso also paid tribute to supporters who packed the stadium, describing the atmosphere as "a proper atmosphere of football."