BBC pundit Phil Neville says that he expects new Chelsea signing Juan Cuadrado to make the club even better in the Premier League.
Chelsea sold Andre Schurrle for £ 24 million on the final day of January transfer window. The German international returned back to the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.
The Premier League table leaders wasted no time in announcing his replacement after managing to secure the signature of Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina for around £ 23 million. The league knows little about the Colombian, but Neville says that the 26-year-old is a very exciting player who can light up the league.
Cuadrado will provide a lot of defensive stability to the team given that he is used to playing as the right-wing back. However, he is expected to occupy the right side of the midfield in Chelsea despite former Anzhi Makhachkala winger Willian making this position as his own in the last six months.Cuadrado will have to perform extremely well in order to win a place ahead of Eden Hazard and Willian. Known for blistering pace, the 26-year-old confirms the significant shift in the transfer policy of Chelsea to go for fast and exciting players.Cuadrado made his debut in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
“I’m a massive fan of Juan Cuadrado and I think we’re about to see an even better Chelsea side when he joins.Saturday’s tactics were dictated by the loss of Costa and Fabregas.I think Mourinho has concluded he is short of players to come in and he is over-reliant on his first XI. That is why Cuadrado could give them the decisive lift. I first saw him playing for Colombia a year ago and I could not believe his running power. You think Willian runs hard, but this lad is something else,” said Neville.