Marco Palestra Close to Chelsea Debut Amid Italy Doubts

Marco Palestra is finally back on the grass at Cobham. Chelsea’s €60m summer signing resumed training today and could get his first competitive minutes for the club this weekend – yet the timing may cost him a place with Italy in the Nations League.

The wing-back, signed from Atalanta after a spell at Cagliari, lit up Chelsea’s pre-season with sharp, driving performances that quickly justified the fee and the fanfare around his arrival in London. Then came the setback. A knock in the final friendly stopped his momentum cold and has kept him out of every competitive match so far.

Weeks later, there is at least movement. Palestra has rejoined the main group, but expectations are being kept in check. Reports around the club suggest that, at best, he is being lined up for a second-half cameo in this weekend’s Premier League fixture rather than a full start.

The mystery around his problem has not helped the sense of frustration. Chelsea have not clarified the nature of the injury, nor even which part of his leg was affected, leaving only the simple fact: he has yet to pull on a Chelsea shirt in a competitive game.

That silence now feeds into the international picture. With Roberto Mancini preparing his Italy squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, Palestra’s situation is far from ideal. He has not played a single minute of club football this season, and that lack of rhythm could weigh heavily when the final list is drawn up.

It would be a harsh twist for a player just breaking onto the Azzurri scene. The 21-year-old made his senior Italy debut in March 2026 and has collected two caps so far, hinting at a long-term role in Mancini’s plans.

Chelsea may finally be about to see what they paid for. Italy must now decide whether to wait a little longer.